Alex Rins is eager to make a striking comeback at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, following a challenging race in Qatar. The Monster Yamaha rider, who currently sits 16th in the world championship standings, aims to unleash his full potential on his home soil at Jerez, a track where he’s previously tasted success.
Rins expressed his excitement about competing in front of European fans once more. “Jerez is a nice track, and this GP always has a nice atmosphere, so I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready to go racing again – which is good because we have a lot of laps to do here!” he stated, prepared for both the race and the crucial Jerez Test on Monday, where bike development will be a focal point.
Having secured podium finishes at Jerez in Moto3, Moto2, and most notably in MotoGP in 2019, where he finished second, Rins is no stranger to triumph on this track. However, his recent outing in Qatar highlighted significant challenges that need addressing, such as discrepancies in power and drive, hindering performance.
Reflecting on Qatar, Rins shared the difficulty of the race, during which he was hampered by slower riders. “I was hit on the arm by a stone, and it was super painful. And then, we gave it everything. When we have a rider in front, like for me was Ogura, who blocks us – he’s doing his race, but I had more performance and I needed to wait until he made a mistake to overtake him. I mean, we cannot race like this…. They know what they need to improve,” he commented, pointing to necessary enhancements in corner exit and straight-line acceleration.
Similar to his teammate Fabio Quartararo, Rins emphasized that corner exit and straight power are critical weaknesses, acknowledging his helplessness as competitors surged ahead in corners. “Corner exit and power on the straight. Two riders overtook me, one on the inside and one on the outside, before the braking in corner one. So it’s difficult to manage on the bike, as a rider… But I overtook Marini on the straight, so we took the positive part!” he added optimistically.
The struggle was evident as the last six positions on the Qatar top speed charts featured three Hondas and three Yamahas. Fortunately, the Jerez track presents shorter straights than those of Buriram, Termas, COTA, and Lusail, potentially offering a more favorable context for Yamaha.
With the stakes high, Alex Rins is poised to redeem himself at Jerez, armed with experience and determination. As he revisits a track laden with personal history, the Spanish GP marks a pivotal opportunity for him to reclaim his standing and demonstrate his mettle amid MotoGP challenges.
