The Suzuki Ecstar team and Alex Rins have agreed terms according to which the young Spaniard will be seen on the Suzuki GSX-RR for the MotoGP seasons 2019 and 2020.
Rins’ teammate has yet to be announced, but current teammate Andrea Iannone has a great start to the season with 47 points and is currently fourth in the MotoGP championship. If Lorenzo fights at Ducati, could the Italian manufacturer get in touch with Iannone again? That seems unlikely, difficult to fathom at least on a factory bike, considering they failed last time …
Who will take a seat next to Alex Rins in Suzuki in 2019? Image by AJRN
In contrast, Rins has only 16 points from his only score, a third place in hand-to-hand combat that was Argentina. Iannone also scored more points than Rins last season, so Suzuki would, at least outwardly, sign Rins first before getting the signature of its top performing driver.
Results of the second MotoGP round 2018 in Argentina
Cal CRUTCHLOW LCR Honda CASTROL 40’36.342
2. Johann ZARCO Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +0.251
3. Alex RINS Team SUZUKI ECSTAR +2.501
Alex Rins
“I am very happy about this contract extension. Even when I was still in Moto2 and planning to switch to MotoGP, it was always the Suzuki project that looked the brightest and most interesting in my eyes. My debut last year was complicated; At the 2016 Valencia Test, there was my back injury, then the ankle injury during training, and finally the arm injury in Austin. After only two races we had a very difficult time, but I always felt the affection and support of Suzuki and the whole team. We were able to change the situation by being patient, working hard and being consistent, and finally we got the first podium this year along with my third place in Argentina. Regardless of the results, whether good or bad, the mood in the box was always positive. The project the team set up for me is fantastic. I can fully trust the capabilities of the company and the team to develop and improve and I am sure that we can continue to strive for great results. Now we just have to work hard to see how far we can go … “
Alex Rins in Jerez – Picture from AJRN
This two-year extension is a confirmation of the strong relationship between the driver and the team, as well as a confirmation of the consistent improvement in the positive feeling between the driver and the machine.
Davide Brivio – Suzuki Team Manager
“I am delighted that we have been able to extend Alex’s contract for the 2019 and 2020 MotoGP seasons. Alex is growing and improving quickly and knowing that we will have a long time together allows everyone to focus and work even harder to get important results with them. I’m glad Alex was happy to stay with us and I would like to thank Alex’s crew and everyone on the team and everyone in Japan for creating a nice environment in which he feels he can continue to work well and to be able to grow. Now let’s do a great job together with this exciting project. “
Alex Rins in Qatar – Picture by AJRN
Alex Rins joined Suzuki in 2017 and made his debut in the MotoGP class. Despite a difficult start to the season in which he was seriously injured, he was able to get his MotoGP adventure off to a real start towards the middle of the season. He showed consistent improvements in his performance and reported that he was feeling increasingly good with the motorcycle. The partnership then continued until 2018, with Alex showing fast pace and strong performances in the winter test, followed shortly after by the success of his first podium in MotoGP. at this year’s Argentina GP, where he finished 3rd.
Shinichi Sahara – Suzuki MotoGP project manager
“The extension of Alex’s contract is a source of great pride for us, especially since we have always hoped that it would be a project that would take a long time. We started this adventure with him last year with the aim not only to see him grow as a MotoGP rider, but also to develop together with him. I believe that the path to success is a process that has to be advanced step by step, takes the right time, learns from mistakes and uses the successes. Both Alex and his crew, along with the entire Suzuki team, have made outstanding progress in this regard and this is why we are very excited to have the chance to build this project for two more years. “
Alex Rins stood on the podium in Argentina – Image from AJRN
MotoGP championship points
- Marc MARQUEZ Honda SPA 70
- Johann ZARCO Yamaha FRA 58
- Maverick VIÑALES Yamaha SPA 50
- Andrea IANNONE Suzuki ITA 47
- Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati ITA 46
- Valentino ROSSI Yamaha ITA 40
- Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda GBR 38
- Jack MILLER Ducati FROM 36
- Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati ITA 34
- Tito RABAT Ducati SPA 24
- Days PEDROSA Honda SPA 18
- Alex RINS Suzuki SPA 16
- Franco MORBIDELLI Honda ITA 13
- Pole ESPARGARO KTM SPA 13
- Alvaro BAUTISTA Ducati SPA 12