Reigning MotoGP champion Joan Mir remains unconcerned about his so-far-winless title defence, saying he expected a much harder start to the 2021 season.

The Ecstar Suzuki rider is 17 points behind Pecco Bagnaia - who also hasn’t won a race in 2021 - in the title chase with only one podium to his name.

“I’m not worried about the title at all, because I’m not looking at the overall. Now I’m giving 100 per cent in every race, getting maximum points every Sunday, we are seeing riders stronger than us,” said Mir, speaking at Jerez.

“I was expecting a start of the season like this, even more difficult. Last year I was able to win the world championship and I was a lot slower here in Jerez, it cost me a lot more.

In Qatar I fought for the podium, in Portimao we were on the podium, I think I’m having a good season… what is expected of us, to win everything?

“I think we are doing well, the goal is to give 100 per cent in every race and in this one the maximum was to be fifth.”

Mir identified an issue - aside from the power gap - which sets the Suzuki and Yamaha apart from the Ducati and, to a lesser degree, Honsa.

“Well, here in Jerez what happened is I think it happened to everyone of us, but probably with the Yamaha and Suzuki happens more because we probably don’t have the power to overtake.

“Then to stop the bike behind the other ones, it’s like they are a wall. Being half a second behind some riders, there is a wall where you can’t stop the bike, you overheat the front and then it’s like you have more but you can’t use.

“It’s a bit frustrating but it’s not the first time here in Jerez that this happened, especially with the hot temperatures, you see more of these problems. I think I’m not the only one with this problem.

“I think we have to improve the qualifying because I’m 100% sure that if I have nobody in front of me, I could improve my time per lap a lot more. So, I think Jack probably didn’t have a better pace than us. He beat us by being super smart.”