In recent years, the renewals of the leading MotoGP riders have been increasingly advanced in time, but during the pandemic the teams have put the brakes on future negotiations a bit. That is the case of Suzuki, which has not moved yet, with its two drivers, Joan Mir and Alex Rins, who end their association with the Japanese brand at the end of 2022 and have not been invited for the moment to negotiate their renewal. .
This Thursday, at Misano , where this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix takes place, Motorsport.com asked Rins about his plans for the future, and if there were any contacts already in some way.
“I have no idea, it is true that some teams are negotiating. In fact, some contracts have already been closed for 2023. We have an agreement until the end of 2022 and if nothing changes I will continue here. I want to say that I feel good at Suzuki and if nothing changes I will continue where I am”, explained the Catalan.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Rins recalled that in the previous race held at this same circuit a month ago he felt very competitive.
“I feel very well after these weeks without activity. We have been able to spend a few days at home with Lucas (his son born a few months ago) and Alexandra (his wife), but now I am already looking forward to getting on the bike. We did a good test here (after the race), but the conditions will be different: it will be colder and we expect some sessions with rain”, he warned.
“The objective that we set ourselves for the weekend is to try to finish on the podium. It will be very difficult. Fabio (Quartararo) and Pecco (Bagnaia) are very strong and add some more Ducati , but we are going to fight. It’s true that we had a good race here a few weeks ago, we were fighting with Enea (Bastianini), but we couldn’t finish it. The objective will be to try to get to the podium this time”, he said.
During the Misano test, Suzuki presented its riders with an improvement in the rear exit device, a piece that they have not been able to use on some tracks as it does not provide an apparent improvement.
“We will come out with the device from the beginning, here we try an update of the standard and something better works, we will take it because it earns a few tenths”.
( Before reading on, click on the image to see the photos of Álex Rins’ 2021 season in MotoGP)
One of the rumors that has intensified in recent weeks is the possible return to Suzuki in the position of Davide Brivio’s team manager.
“The fact of not having a team manager has been noted. The team doesn’t breathe the same as before with Davide, not because he’s gone, but because maybe this figure is missing,” Rins replied to Motorsport.com ‘s question.
“There are many rumors that he will return, but there is talk of Suzuki, of the Valentino team (Rossi, VR46). I don’t know, I would be very excited if he came back because I appreciate him a lot and we have very good feedback ”.
When insisted on the subject and if he had been able to speak with Brivio directly, Rins revealed: “I wrote to him the other day, when the rumors appeared, and he told me that he has one more year of contract with Alpine and that, in principle, he will continue there next year”, cooled Rins.
