Alex Rins, the six-time MotoGP race winner, disclosed that he turned down an offer to join Gresini Ducati for the 2023 season following Suzuki’s unexpected exit from MotoGP. Instead, he opted to sign with Honda’s LCR team, a choice influenced by factory-level support rather than financial incentives.
Details Behind Rins’ Decision to Choose Honda Over Ducati
During the 2022 season, Suzuki announced its withdrawal from MotoGP, leaving riders Alex Rins and Joan Mir searching for new seats in a competitive and limited market. Both riders secured contracts with Honda; Rins joined LCR Honda while Mir moved to the factory Honda team.
In an interview with L’Esportiu de Catalunya, Rins unveiled that Gresini had offered him a ride on a year-old Ducati for 2023. However, he ultimately rejected this option in favor of Honda’s factory deal, which promised him conditions equal to top riders Marc Marquez and Joan Mir.
Rins explained,
“I don’t regret it because I can’t change it anymore.”
He noted that although joining Ducati may have appeared to be an easy choice, the satellite teams were not truly independent, complicating performance management especially after Suzuki’s exit. He stressed that his decision was less about money and more about the quality of the project and factory backing.
Potential Impact if Rins Had Joined Gresini Ducati
The decision to reject the Ducati offer opens an intriguing “what-if” scenario. While Ducati won the championship in 2022 through Pecco Bagnaia, the brand had yet to achieve strong results with satellite team riders at the time Rins had to decide. Taking on a 2023 season with a year-old Ducati model offered no certainty for success.
Had Rins accepted the Gresini Ducati ride, he might have avoided the serious leg injury he sustained at the Italian Grand Prix that year. Since Alex Marquez took the Gresini Ducati seat, he achieved three grand prix victories and finished as runner-up, which positioned Gresini for receiving a factory Ducati bike from the 2026 season onwards. This trajectory could have been Rins’ path under different circumstances.
How Rins’ Choice Influenced Marc Marquez’s Career Moves
Rins’ decision also indirectly affected Marc Marquez’s rider path. A key reason Marquez joined Gresini in 2024 was the presence of his younger brother, Alex Marquez, already riding there. Had Rins taken that spot at Gresini, Alex Marquez likely would not have made the move, which might have dissuaded Marc Marquez from leaving Honda.
Marc Marquez has openly acknowledged that remaining with Honda might have led to an early end to his illustrious career. Thus, Rins’ preference for Honda’s factory deal and the resulting team shifts played a crucial role in shaping the competitive landscape and career longevity for multiple riders.
