The Suzuki rider added his second podium of the year, improving on the third place in Argentina last week to finish, at the Grand Prix of the Americas, on the second step of the podium.
The Spanish rider is proving to be very solid this year, unlike last year, which places him in the pool of favorites for the World Cup, of which he is currently second overall, just five points behind the leader, Enea Bastianini.
“Honestly, I did not expect to reach the podium, normally in the first laps I recover many positions and this time it has not been like that”, introduced the Suzuki rider.
“I tried to brake late on all the laps to overtake, but with Enea I couldn’t,” he admitted, despite the fact that he overtook him twice but the Italian returned the overtaking due to acceleration.
“Bastianini has been very smart and has held up very well every time I have attacked him, he has kept tires very well and in the end he changed the pace to break away.”
The one who was able to overtake Rins, who started 7th on the grid, was Jack Miller, on the last lap and after several attempts, too.
“It’s never easy to overtake Miller, he brakes very hard, but in the last two corners I was able to brake well and take second place. It’s the 500th podium for Suzuki and I’m very satisfied,” he said.
The two podiums in the first four races confirm an advance for Suzuki compared to last year.
“I think we are doing better than last year at Suzuki, we have improved the engine, we don’t lose that much on the straight, but we need to work on the aerodynamics, because in the last corner, in 11 and 12, we lose a little in this aspect, surely Suzuki will work on it”, he asked, before acknowledging that “we are obtaining very good results at Suzuki this year”.
Despite the fact that the Ducati, on paper, are much more powerful, the Suzuki was able to defend itself and pass riders like Johann Zarco, Pecco Bagnaia or Jorge Martín.
“I think I had an advantage in sector 1, from turns 3 to 6, there I was able to cut positions and I think it is thanks to the Suzuki chassis, although it does not accelerate as well, but the braking capacity in turn 11 This is what has surprised me the most about the bike”.
After a season with many crashes last year, Rins has been at his best for a long time.
“Without a doubt I am showing my best version, we are working very hard with the team. I trained a lot in the gym during the winter, and also mentally, and perseverance is the fruit of that work. But there are still many races left, we are only in the fourth of the year. Argentina and Austin have been two good races and we must continue along these lines”.
Regarding the biggest differences or improvements compared to last year’s bike, Rins wanted to highlight his own work more.
“Until now Suzuki’s strong point was rear tire management, now with the new casing (2022) that advantage is less. Now we work more on my own management and set-up,” concluded the Barcelona native.
