Alex Rins put Suzuki at the top of the timesheets the penultimate night of MotoGP testing ahead of the season in Qatar.
After three runner-ups last season and a promising pace in the opening test in Sepang, this was another sign that the Spaniard is getting closer to his goal of race victory on the GSX-RR.
“I think if the race was tomorrow, we’d like to start!” Said Rins, who overtook Vinales on his 44th of 47 laps by 0.057 seconds ahead of Yamaha’s Maverick. “Because as you can see, we’re doing a very good job.
“In Sepang and Qatar during these two days, I think we are happy. The team and me. We have confirmed everything we tried in Sepang and also new parts like the new exhaust that Suzuki brought here to Qatar think we are in the right direction. “
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Rins explained where progress has been made on the GSX-RR, quoting “a bit of the braking area. That was one thing I asked Suzuki about the latter part of last season. And they certainly took a small step.”
“In general, the bike is similar to last year, no major changes, but the small changes they have made are pretty consistent.”
That’s a relief for Suzuki, which no longer has access to technical concessions like in-season engine modifications, a rule it caught in 2017 when choosing the wrong design.
And is that enough step to become a MotoGP winner in 2019?
“We hope! That is the goal of Suzuki and basically we are going the right way. The goal is to win, because last year I got a lot of podiums, a lot of second places, a lot of third places.”
“Winning a race is definitely difficult, but if we don’t win here in Qatar, there are 18 races before we finish in Valencia. Here, in the first race, everyone wants to win, everyone wants to be on the podium.” I think we have to take it step by step and in the end we will see where we are. “
The only race victory of the GSX-RR so far went to Vinales in Silverstone 2016.
The last night of the pre-season tests takes place on Monday.
“Tomorrow we want to do a little long run to see where we are, to see how the tire life is going,” said Rins.
Rookie team-mate Joan Mir was eleventh fastest (+0.687 seconds).