Injury rules former champion Mir out of Argentina MotoGP

TERMAS DE RIO HONDO - Former MotoGP world champion Joan Mir will miss Sunday's race in Argentina due to injuries suffered in the sprint, his Honda team announced.

"After a morning medical check, Joan Mir was declared unfit for the Argentina GP by MotoGP and circuit medical staff due to cranial and cervical trauma," Honda said.

The Spaniard, who won the MotoGP title in 2020, crashed in the opening lap of Saturday's sprint won by Brad Binder.

During the medical tests he experienced feelings of nausea and dizziness, and will now return to Europe and prepare for the Grand Prix of the Americas at Austin.

The news is a big blow for Honda who are already missing six-time world champion Marc Marquez, injured in the season-opener in Portugal last weekend.

Mir's absence reduces the usual 22-rider grid at the Termas de Hondo circuit to 17 with Marquez, Enea Bastianini, Spanish veteran Pol Espargaro and Miguel Oliveira all nursing injuries from Portimao.

Marquez's younger brother Alex starts from pole with defending champion and winner of last week's sprint and main race Francesco Bagnaia on the front row after qualifying in third. -- AFP