News 12 Sep 2017

MotoGP rookie Rins earns career-best finish at San Marino

Factory Suzuki rider breaks the top 10 at the Misano grand prix.

Source: Supplied.

Team Suzuki Ecstar rookie Alex Rins lodged a career-best result of eighth at a wet 13th round of the 2017 MotoGP World Championship on Sunday in Misano, Italy.

The youthful talent started from 20th and found himself in last as the field exited turn one, although the Spaniard was able to turn his race around, negotiating the challenging conditions with class to navigate his way into the top 10.

Rins admitted he struggled with the dry conditions at the San Marino circuit, although he was able to take advantage as the rain fell, allowing him to score his best finish yet.

“I’m happy about this result,” said Rins. “During the whole weekend we struggled in dry conditions, but on wet we did a very good job. After the start I found myself in last position. It was a problem with visibility, with all the water kicked up by the other riders ahead of me.

“Little by little I managed to recover positions, setting my own pace. I saw I could get up to the ninth position and settled behind the rider ahead, where I waited until the last lap to attempt the challenge for eighth place.

“Then in the last corners we crossed lines with another rider and I lost some ground, without a chance to recover further. My team prepared a fantastic setup for the wet, despite only lapping for 20 minutes in this morning’s warmup.”

The factory Suzuki rider sits 19th in the championship standings as the series heads to Aragon in Spain on 24 September.

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