Ecstar Suzuki’s Joan Mir bagged his maiden MotoGP podium at the Red Bull Ring yesterday and did it fighting the top speed of Ducati and KTM along two lengthy straights.

In the re-started 20-lap race, Mir was able to hang with the lead group, benefiting from team-mate Alex Rins’ exit and then passed Jack Miller for second when the Australian made an error two corners from home.

“It was hard to get the first podium. We have had the speed for a few races and now it has finally been enough for the result. I am so happy for the team - everyone who is here, but also everyone else in Japan. I couldn’t have wished for anything better for today.

“If we had started from the front row and I could have taken the lead, then there would probably have been a bit more. But fighting with Ducati here is not easy. Still, I’m really happy.”

Mir believes the Suzuki is now good enough to challenge at most tracks so long as track temperatures are normal but said it was hard to deal with opposition that was, at times, five kilometres per hour faster in a straight line.

“It’s difficult to fight the Ducati here. You are so fast in sectors one and two - but we are in three and four. Sure, it is definitely more difficult for us to overtake. The KTM, Pol Espargaro, was also super fast on the straights.

Fighting these guys with these engines was tough today - but our bike is good in other ways. We played our cards well. My team and I already knew we had the potential. But now we are sure to believe in ourselves even more, after this podium.”

Mir also confirmed he used Suzuki’s holeshot device after seeing Rins’ advantage at the Brno round.

“Yes, Alex used it in Brno and I saw that he was super fast. Here I also used it. It was great, definitely the best start of my life, actually in both races. If we put everything together, like today, then we will be able to fight on several tracks.”