Iker Lecuona replaces injured Joan Mir, but Marc Marquez confirms Dutch MotoGP return
Joan Mir will miss this weekend’s Dutch MotoGP at Assen due to a hand injury, with Iker Lecuona called up to replace him.
After missing the Italian MotoGP following a hand injury during a Practice crash, Mir will miss his third consecutive race after also missing out at Sachsenring last weekend.
Mir has endured a torrid first season with Honda as injuries have been the story of his season, as have crashes.
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The 2020 world champion has already crashed more times this season than the entire 2022 season with Suzuki.
While Mir has often been off the pace when on circuit, the Spaniard is not the only Honda rider to have struggled as Marc Marquez and Alex Rins have also picked up injuries.
A broken leg at Mugello resulted in Rins missing the last two Grand Prix, while Marquez withdrew from the German MotoGP following a crash in warm-up which resulted in a fracture finger.
After replacing Marquez at Jerez, Honda WorldSBK rider Lecuona will step in for the injured Mir.
“First of all I want to wish Joan all the best in his recovery," said Lecuona. "I am excited to join the team again, it’s a true honour.
"Assen is a circuit I like, I got my first WorldSBK podium there so hopefully we can have another good weekend like in Jerez.
"I am still recovering a bit after the crash in Misano, so this will be a good physical test too. Let’s ride!”
In terms of the LCR Honda garage, test rider Stefan Bradl will compete in his third round of the year as he replaces Rins alongside Takaaki Nakagami.
Although Mir and Rins are both out of the Dutch Grand Prix, Honda will have a full line-up of four riders including Marquez, who will be back in action following his disastrous weekend at Sachsenring.
Looking to put his miserable German Grand Prix behind him, Marquez said: “I arrive in Assen looking to put the hard weekend in Germany behind me.
"We have one more race before the summer break and the objective is to gather a lot of good data for the engineers so they can work over these next weeks. This is the focus for the weekend, we need to remain calm and approach the weekend with a clear plan."
