Rins critical of his “stupid mistakes” in MotoGP 2021
Suzuki’s Alex Rins has criticised his “stupid mistakes” so far in the 2021 MotoGP season having crashed four times in the last three races while in strong positions.
Rins crashed out of the battle for victory in Portugal last month while running second and fell early on in the following Spanish Grand Prix from sixth position.
In Sunday’s wet Le Mans race, Rins recovered from 15th on the grid to run in the podium places by the end of lap five and exited pitlane behind race leader Marc Marquez.
But he crashed immediately at the Dunlop chicane, throwing away another podium opportunity, before falling again later in the race.
Rins is at a loss for words on his current form, not least because he insists the improvements made with the GSX-RR in 2021 are allowing him to “do whatever I want” on it.
“It’s true that I’m crashing a lot this season,” Rins said on Sunday at Le Mans, having dropped 57 points adrift in the championship standings.
“I’m taking all the crashes that the last two years we don’t make.
“I don’t know how to answer because I’m feeling good. I’m working hard at home with all my staff. This sometimes happens, I don’t know.
“We improved the bike a lot. I need to say sorry to the team because this year is the year that I’m feeling stronger on the bike, I do whatever I want – except in qualifying.
“But I do whatever I want here in Le Mans. We struggled a lot and in the dry conditions we were so fast from the beginning.
“We were out of Q2 for nothing, we finished 11th by just putting one tyre in the beginning.
“We did a big improvement on the bike, just we are doing stupid mistakes.
“Today we did the impossible. We passed the first lap fourth, or fifth, I recovered 10 positions on the first lap.
“I entered the box and changed the bike so fast I recovered one position, then a stupid crash again.”
Rins admits it’s hard to stay focused right now in his current slump but has vowed to “reset” again for the Italian GP.
“It’s a bit tough in these moments to see the guys in the team not high,” he added.
“We are passing through a difficult moment with these three crashes in the last three races.
“It’s not easy. For me it’s hard too.
“But I will do a reset again and I will arrive with the same strength at Mugello.
“I will try to fight at Mugello. I mean, this is all we can do now.”
Related video
Rossi doesn't like "dangerous" flag-to-flag MotoGP races
Zarco "wrong" to be disappointed about lost home MotoGP win
2022 MotoGP title fight now "very tight", says Aleix Espargaro
Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro believes the current MotoGP championship picture following the British Grand Prix has set up “a very, very tight” title battle.
Pol Espargaro doesn’t think Honda is reacting to MotoGP woes
Pol Espargaro isn’t sure the problems Honda is facing at races in MotoGP this season is being relayed back to Japan as “we’re not getting the material we need”.
Marc Marquez to return to MotoGP paddock in Austria for Honda progress update
Marc Marquez will return to the MotoGP paddock at the Austrian Grand Prix to check up on Honda’s progress as he continues his own rehabilitation.
Rins “destroyed” after grip issues end Silverstone MotoGP win hopes
Suzuki’s Alex Rins says he was “destroyed” after a “not normal” drop in grip left him tumbling down the order from the lead of the MotoGP British Grand Prix.
The signs Quartararo’s 2022 MotoGP title is slipping away from him
Prior to the summer break, the 2022 MotoGP title looked like it was Fabio Quartararo’s to lose. But a crash at Assen and the consequential penalty he had to serve last weekend at Silverstone stopped him from capitalising on a main rival’s injury woes, while a resurgence from another, plus the rise of a former teammate, look set to conspire against the Yamaha rider.
Why Andrea Dovizioso is leaving MotoGP at the right time
On the eve of the British Grand Prix, Andrea Dovizioso announced that he will be retiring from MotoGP after September’s San Marino GP. The timing of his departure raised eyebrows, but his reasoning remains sensible and what has happened this year should not diminish a hard-built legacy.
Why Alex Rins feels he deserves MotoGP's toughest challenge
Alex Rins’ MotoGP future was plunged into sudden doubt when Suzuki elected to quit the series at the end of 2022. Securing a deal with Honda to join LCR, he will now tread a path that many have fallen off from. But it was a move he felt his status deserved, and it’s a challenge – he tells Motorsport.com - he faces with his eyes wide open…
How Formula 1 has driven MotoGP's changing nature
The hiring of technicians from Formula 1 has clearly contributed to a recent change in the MotoGP landscape, with the role of engineers gaining greater significance relative to the riders. Here's how this shift has come about.
The battle Yamaha's wayward son is fighting to be fast again in MotoGP
Franco Morbidelli was long overdue a promotion to factory machinery when it finally came late last year, having finished runner-up in the 2020 standings on an old Yamaha package. But since then the Italian has been a shadow of his former self as he toils to adapt to the 2022 M1, and recognises that he needs to change his style to be quick on it
Why Honda and Yamaha have been left behind in MotoGP's new era
OPINION: The once all-conquering Japanese manufacturers are going through a difficult period in MotoGP this season. With Suzuki quitting, Honda struggling to get near the podium and Yamaha only enjoying success courtesy of Fabio Quartararo, Japanese manufacturers have been left in the dust by their European counterparts. This is why.
How in-form Quartararo is evoking Marquez in MotoGP 2022
OPINION: Fabio Quartararo has seized control of the 2022 MotoGP world standings after another dominant victory as his nearest rivals faltered. And he is very much heading towards a second championship echoing how the dominator of the last decade achieved much of his success.
Why Marquez's surgery is about more than just chasing on-track success
OPINION: Marc Marquez will likely sit out the remainder of the 2022 MotoGP season to undergo a fourth major operation on the right arm he badly broke in 2020. It is hoped it will return him to his brilliant best after a tough start to the season without a podium to his name. But it’s the human victory that will far outweigh any future on-track success he may go on to have