There was no shortage of unexpected events and surprises during this opening MotoGP weekend at the Goiânia circuit, which ended with a Grand Prix shortened to 23 laps for safety reasons.
Alex Rins knows a thing or two about the severe track degradation that led to this last-minute decision, having been forced to undergo medical checks after the race after being struck in the hand by a piece of loose asphalt kicked up by one of the bikes ahead of him. It was just a minor mishap for the Spaniard, who fortunately appears to have suffered only a bruise and some pain.
Finishing as the top Yamaha rider in 14th place, Rins spoke about the incident in the post-race interview, also commenting on the condition of the Brazilian circuit’s asphalt.
“What did I notice that was different from yesterday? I felt there was really little grip. I think it was due to the Moto2 race and the track’s rubber buildup, but I didn’t see any missing sections of asphalt. The truth, however, is that a piece of asphalt hit my finger, ” Alex said.
No complaints from Rins, who added regarding the decision to shorten the race : “We found out while we were on the starting grid. I don’t think anyone expected it, but if Race Control made this decision, it was for the riders’ safety.”
The Catalan rider’s assessment was positive, as he tried to see the glass as half full.
“The race went well. Considering what we’re capable of, it was excellent because we scored two points. It’s not the best result, but at least I made some nice passes and battled a bit with the other riders,” he said. “I got off to a good start and tried to adapt to this track by approaching the corners more like ‘stop-and-go’ moves, so I could exit them faster.”