Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins has been firing on all cylinders this weekend at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, with his only mistake coming in Q2 where a crash at Turn 10 cost him a chance of the front row.
Rins was the fastest man in Free Practice and was edged out by eventual polesitter Fabio Quartararo in FP4, so the Spaniard was understandably disappointed to have to settle for eighth by the time the chequered flag dropped in Q2.
“Yeah sincerely it was a big shame because I was feeling very strong,” admitted Rins, who was on a personal best time before tucking the front into the slow left-hander at the end of the back straight.
“Before the crash I was on red helmets, first or second row, but I did a small mistake. I braked a little bit harder for Maverick in front but anyway. I feel strong on the bike with a good rhythm. It will be hard tomorrow, they say it will be hotter conditions, but we will try to perform at our 100%.”
So is this the best Rins has felt across a weekend so far this year? He thinks it could be, which bodes well for Sunday.
“Maybe. Maybe yes. Sincerely, I was riding alone in the sessions and I was feeling very comfortable, riding with a lot of confidence, so we arrive prepared for tomorrow’s race.”
The Suzuki star’s FP4 pace certainly shows he’s a contender for the race win. And Rins is no stranger to a fight back from the lower ends of the grid either. Expect the number 42 to be mixing it at the front in Barcelona on Sunday, tune into the race at 14:00 local time (GMT+2).