Mir thought race was over after Oliveira Assen start line crash
Suzuki’s Joan Mir admits he thought his MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix was over when KTM’s Miguel Oliveira ran into the back of him on the start line.
Mir braked hard into his grid slot to engage the front holeshot device for the start, but caught Oliveira unaware.
Oliveira ran into Mir and broke one of his wings, while Mir escaped damage. Both were able to complete the race, with Mir finishing eighth and Oliveira ninth.
“Now you have to engage the front device, the front holeshot and with our bike you have to brake quite hard to engage it,” Mir explained when asked about the incident.
“And when I saw my starting position, I braked and then Oliveira just hit me. He lost a wing or something, my bike was ok, but the hit was pretty strong.
“When I felt the hit, I looked back and said ‘ok, let’s go to the box’ because it was quite strong.”
Miguel Oliveira, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Oliveira says he was not focused on where Mir was as he was letting Jack Miller and Maverick Vinales go past him.
The KTM rider also says the damage he received to his aerodynamics made his bike harder to turn and less stable.
“I was drawn to him,” Oliveira joked when asked about the collision. “I mean, clearly it was an unexpected move because I think he engaged his front device in his spot.
“He was going slow and then he did a stoppy and I was not expecting it because I let Maverick and Jack pass to the right side of the track.
“I was waiting to my spot because I already engaged my device before and then I just rolled to my spot. But at this moment he braked and I couldn’t avoid him because I was just not focused on him because I let these guys passed. And when I was going to the left he stopped.
“So, I broke my lever protection on my brake and the wing was broken completely. The effect was I lost stability in fast corners and the bike was hard to turn on the right side.”
Related video
Miller blasts “bullshit” Assen MotoGP long lap penalty
Quartararo rages against MotoGP stewards over Assen penalty
Riders have been “too hard” on India MotoGP track over safety concerns
Riders have been “too hard” on India MotoGP track over safety concerns Riders have been “too hard” on India MotoGP track over safety concerns
How one Marquez’s MotoGP switch can inspire another
How one Marquez’s MotoGP switch can inspire another How one Marquez’s MotoGP switch can inspire another
The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid
The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid
Russell will keep "rolling the dice" after mindset change despite Singapore F1 crash
Russell will keep "rolling the dice" after mindset change despite Singapore F1 crash Russell will keep "rolling the dice" after mindset change despite Singapore F1 crash
Vettel: No regrets on retiring after realising how small F1 world is
Vettel: No regrets on retiring after realising how small F1 world is Vettel: No regrets on retiring after realising how small F1 world is
Riders have been “too hard” on India MotoGP track over safety concerns
Riders have been “too hard” on India MotoGP track over safety concerns Riders have been “too hard” on India MotoGP track over safety concerns
F1 Form Guide: Japanese Grand Prix
F1 Form Guide: Japanese Grand Prix F1 Form Guide: Japanese Grand Prix
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP? Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
How one MotoGP team went from title challengers to losing it all in four years
How one MotoGP team went from title challengers to losing it all in four years How one MotoGP team went from title challengers to losing it all in four years
Is Marc Marquez ready to reclaim his MotoGP throne?
Is Marc Marquez ready to reclaim his MotoGP throne? Is Marc Marquez ready to reclaim his MotoGP throne?
How MotoGP's underachiever is working to reverse its fortunes in 2023
How MotoGP's underachiever is working to reverse its fortunes in 2023 How MotoGP's underachiever is working to reverse its fortunes in 2023
How MotoGP riders are preparing for the physical stress of sprint races
How MotoGP riders are preparing for the physical stress of sprint races How MotoGP riders are preparing for the physical stress of sprint races
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.