Alex Rins’ rookie year in MotoGP didn’t go as planned. After a strong showing at the Qatar opener, where he finished in 9th (top rookie), injuries plagued the Spaniard. He broke his ankle on a motocross bike shortly after Qatar, and later in the season broke his left arm during practice for the Austin, Texas round.
Although he has never won a GP championship, the 22-year-old is plenty fast. Between Moto2 and Moto3, Rins recorded 12 victories, and a total of 40 podiums. Although he was, perhaps, expected to play second fiddle to Suzuki teammate, and MotoGP race winner, Andrea Iannone, we wouldn’t be surprised if he is consistently faster than Iannone this year.
Earlier today, the first day of a three-day test at the new Buriram Circuit was completed, and Rins recorded the second quickest time, edged out by Cal Cruthlow (Honda). Like all of the riders, Rins was learning a new track today, and we will see how he fares over the remaining two days of the test. Stay tuned for further reports on the test from MD this weekend.
See more of MD’s great photography:
Let’s hope Iannone doesn’t collide with Rins like he used to w/Dovi at Ducati.
Training is absolutely required and motocross or supermoto works great to train the mind at their level to feel that a bike moving around is normal. Even at my medium track level, riding on the dirt bike through the woods gives me a great push into a track day. I see why they do it and anything on two wheels can be dangerous of course. But I would definitely cut the big jumps.. it simply adds risk and provides no real training except they are there and can be fun… 🙂
I think Rins is going to be the #1 rider for Suzuki at the end of the year.
MotoGP says Rins is 176cm = 5 ft 9.3 inches, pretty tall for the class, me thinks. With Rins on board, the dimensions of his Suzuki 1000 reminds me of an old 500cc 2-stroke GP bike.
I can understand why motocross style riding has become essential to high level road racers but once the skills are mastered, the confidence absolute, does the actual doing pay off during the season? Constantly training the inner ear, as I call it. Is worth the risks?
I mention because of his injury last year and of course Rossi’s.
It’s impossible to compete at that level without taking risks.
To keep you skill sharp you need to practice them all the time. I would, how ever, cut the jumps off if I was practicing for road racing.
re: “I would, how ever, cut the jumps off if I was practicing for road racing.”
see entry for the original Kenny Roberts ranch, the ranch at the Haydens, Rossi’s new dirt track, and CE2’s Texas Tornado boot camp.
Motocross without the jumps is nothing like dirt track. Though dirt track might be better training for road racing. Ice racing might be better still.
Q: Is (it) worth the risks?
A: no… (convalescing Ben Spies voice)
https://tinyurl.com/y84dzb2f
The dirt track training is the lowest risk. Controlled sliding at and beyond the limits, at low speeds are what it’s about. They can experiment and even crash in relative safety. If they had the money and access to do the same hours on road course, outcomes would probably be worse.
Rins shows a lot of promise. Suzuki was showing a lot of promise. Hopefully for 2018, they will both show that they are meant to be there.
If Rins can manage to stay aboard the bike and remain healthy, he could be the steadier Andrea Dovisioso to the faster and more mercurial Andrea Iannoni, when they were teammates at Ducati.