The Suzuki rider exhibited great pace on Saturday and started seventh on the grid, convinced that he could fight to finish third or, at most, among the top five.
However, on the second lap of the race, Alex Rins was pushed off the track by an aggressive maneuver by Frenchman Johann Zarco, which absolutely doomed him as he returned to tarmac last.
Despite this, Rins rode at the same pace as those in front and ended up climbing to 11th position, crossing the finish line 21.37 seconds behind the winner, Fabio Quartararo.
“I am disappointed, once again we had the rhythm until Zarco took me off the track. Then I rode alone and the pace was there to achieve the goal we had set for ourselves yesterday, which was to finish third or in the top 5. It was a shame. If we look at the action from the helicopter camera, you can see that if he hadn’t leaned on me and hit me, Zarco would have ended up in the stands”, lamented Rins.
Motorsport.com asked Rins to describe the dynamics of the incident with Zarco.
“The dynamic is that I braked on the spot just behind Viñales, and a motorcycle hit me. My arm got caught on Zarco’s wing and I could only lift the bike. If I had continued lying down I would have gone to the ground”.
At the end of the race and despite the incident, Rins lost 21.37 seconds.
“We have not looked at how much we have lost because of the track exit, but the pace was there, not to win, but to finish third, fourth or fifth”, he assured.
An incident with a pilot who, on a high percentage of occasions, is involved in trouble. Something that cannot be accidental.
“Zarco, since he arrived in MotoGP in 2017, has already generated quite a bit of controversy due to his overtaking and aggressiveness. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence. The move he’s made on me doesn’t make sense to do it in the second round. He is playing the World Cup, you don’t really understand what he has done”.
The Catalan is experiencing one of the most difficult seasons of his life after suffering four falls in a row and missing the Barcelona event due to injury.
“It hasn’t been a good first half of the season despite having the speed. We have not managed to achieve our objectives, but we will come back stronger after the break”, in reference to the five weeks that now arrive without races.
Facing this second part of the course, Alex is optimistic.
“I hope to try and finish it off in the second half of the season. On Sundays we did not manage to finish in the objective. I am happy with the bike. With the change of setting I feel the front better and I see when it is going to close or not. I feel more comfortable and I hope to be able to show it on the track”.
The #42 , despite the poor results, does not lose confidence to straighten the situation.
“Despite everything that is happening when I go out on the track I try to do the job as well as possible, we have a good pace but we never managed to finish it off on race day, on Saturday we are fast, we have improved in that aspect”.
The drivers, after a bad result, always want to return to the track as soon as possible, but now there is a five-week break.
“It could be good to get back on track right away, but maybe also take a break, recover well from the hand and give Suzuki time to bring us the (rear) holeshot for the Austrian races,” concluded the Barcelonan.
The photos of Alex Rins at the 2021 MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
