Alex Rins fired Moto2 in 2017 to join Suzuki as his latest rookie in the Japanese box ranks. Since then, the Spaniard has won the Ecstar team three times, most recently at the 2020 Aragon Grand Prix.
Before the season began, his Rins teammate Joan Mir revealed that his priority was to stay with Suzuki beyond 2022, encouraged by the steps forward the team made with the GSX-RR after a tough 2021.
And in a season where both Suzuki seats are up for grabs for 2023, there are plenty of rumors in the paddock linking reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo with a possible move to the Japanese manufacturer.
However, as the season has run its course, Rins has been heartened by talks coming directly from Suzuki about his future. The Barcelona rider is the only one apart from championship leader Enea Bastianini to have achieved multiple podium finishes in 2022 so far.
“It’s early to talk about the next few years,” Rins said of his future with Suzuki. “But the good thing, and I think it reassures me, is that Livio [Suppo, team principal] and the Japanese tell me that they want to continue.”
Coming second in the championship, after finishing ahead of his team-mate in the last three races, changes nothing in the Spanish driver’s mind when it comes to setting long-term goals.
“So I’m calmer and I can drive in a better way compared to if I didn’t have something [on the cards] for next year.”
“We’ll see. My manager will start talking at the next few races [about the deal].”
“In the end, what counts is how you get to Valencia,” he assured this Thursday at the Portimao press conference.
In this way, for the moment, the Spanish driver will focus on signing a good weekend at the Portuguese Grand Prix, a scenario where last year he crashed when he crossed the limit chasing Fabio Quartararo in the fight for victory. .
