Mir: Suzuki 'more aggressive' than Yamaha, 'character quite different'
As the only Inline four-cylinder machines on the MotoGP grid, the Suzuki GSX-RR and Yamaha M1 are often grouped together as similar machines in terms of riding style and technical strengths.
But that's not an opinion shared by Suzuki's reigning world champion Joan Mir, at least when looking at the M1 from the outside.
"Woah! Difficult question to answer because I only see from the outside and the results," Mir replied, when asked to compare the two machines.
"I think that the bikes are not really similar. It’s true that they both have the Inline-4 engine, but the character is quite different.
"You see the Yamahas riding in a different way to the Suzukis. The Suzukis are more aggressive. You have more movement. The Yamaha looks more smooth.
"It’s only from what I can see, but I think the Suzuki is a bit more aggressive than the Yamaha."
Yamaha has won five of the nine races so far this season (four for title leader Fabio Quartararo and one for Maverick Vinales), with the V4-powered bikes of Jack Miller (Ducati), Miguel Oliveira (KTM) and Marc Marquez (Honda) victorious in the other four events.
Mir and Suzuki are yet to win a 2021 race, but the Spaniard has made three podium appearances for fourth place in the standings heading into the summer break.