MotoGP, Rins: "This Suzuki is a beast"

In the Suzuki camp, there were great expectations for the new pair. Andrea Iannone on one side and Alex Rins on the other. The Spaniard made his MotoGP début today, closing out this Tuesday with the 21st best time behind Smith, about two seconds behind the leader. It would seem that the adventure has only just begun for him and he is well aware of this.

How would you judge this day?

“It’s incredible, both the bike and the team. I did not expect it to be like this. I think I am not doing too badly. We can definitely improve after this first day, especially in terms of acceleration and braking.”

What are the differences from Moto2?

“I think that it is completely different, particularly the acceleration, since the bike wheelies. This Suzuki is certainly much more demanding than the Kalex. I am learning it without speeding up my times. In fact, today we didn’t focus on the setup.”

You emphasized the acceleration.

“Let’s just say that I’m working on this aspect, also relying on the controls, since I have been going up on one wheel. I am convinced that I am on a great team and Maverick’s past confirms that.”

Is it just as you had imagined it?

“To be honest, I had imagined it being less of a beast. I figured out that I will need to concentrate on the tyres too, but I am optimistic. The bike holds together well and the electronics have given me positive indicators.”

What do you think of the tyres?

“I am just getting to know the Michelins. For the moment, I can’t complain.”  

What advice did the team give you?

“The team helped me, telling me to stay calm. At the end of the day, it is still just a bike.”