The doubts generated by Alex Rins after his return from a compound leg fracture in the Mugello round are at odds with the trust placed in him by Yamaha, who signed the Spaniard while he was injured in 2023. Furthermore, Yamaha has decided to double its bet by renewing his contract until 2026, despite still being the victim of an injury.
If we start from the premise that no MotoGP team wants to complicate their lives on purpose, especially a factory team with multiple world titles, logic leads us to think that there is a valid reason to confirm a rider who offers more doubts than certainties.
These doubts are not due to his talent, which has been amply demonstrated in the eight years of his presence in MotoGP, with six victories and 18 podiums overall in the premier class. The doubts arise from the limitations he may have on his riding and, consequently, on his results, due to the serious accident at Mugello last year, when he broke his left ankle and tibia. Rins then underwent several surgeries in an attempt to return to full health.
Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo credit: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Accidents never come at a good time, but this one also came at the worst time for the Catalan, who in 2023 had won the GP of the Americas with a Honda that only Marc Marquez knew how to win. A success that came before the ferment in the drivers’ market, which came into full swing just when Rins was out due to injury. It was surprising that Rins ended up at Yamaha, especially since at the time of signing the contract there was no approximate reference of the physical level that the rider would be able to offer, who in 2023 missed more races (13) than runs (seven).
If his hiring attracted attention and raised many questions, to which were added those following the renewal, which arrived when Rins was still injured following a heavy fall at Assen. The accident caused him to fracture his left leg again and two more fractures to his right wrist, the one that controls the accelerator, which put him out of action for the next two rounds in Germany and Great Britain.
Up to that point, Rins had accumulated just eight points in eight grands prix, and his best result was 13th place in Portimao and Jerez, in contrast to teammate Fabio Quartararo’s 39 points. Despite all the indications and negative connotations just exposed, Yamaha has nevertheless chosen to renew its commitment with Rins not for one year, but for two, until the end of 2026.
At this point, one wonders: what does the Japanese manufacturer see in him? Although it may seem disrespectful, even the pilot himself considers the question pertinent, if we look at his most recent numbers. “The reflection is appropriate because I have not yet managed to demonstrate my full potential in the race. It would be very egocentric to say only positive things about myself, but surely the comments I make must be useful [alla Yamaha]just like my method when it comes to evaluating specific parts of the bike”, Rins tells Motorsport.com when asked for his opinion on the reasons that drove the Japanese manufacturer.
Alex Rins, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo credit: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
One of Rins’ supporters is, curiously, his teammate Quartararo: “What does Yamaha see in Alex? Well, six victories, podiums and a third place in the 2020 world championship. Furthermore, he is a fast rider, one of the faster, even if in recent years he hasn’t had too much luck because he’s suffered major injuries.”
Davide Brivio has never hidden that he has a soft spot for Rins, as demonstrated by the fact that he recruited him for Suzuki, with whom he debuted in MotoGP in 2017. “If Yamaha appreciates what he can offer, Alex can stay there for life. He is very good at his role as a developer,” explains the Trackhouse team manager. Brivio knows what he’s talking about: in 2017, when Rins made his MotoGP debut, Suzuki relied on Andrea Iannone to choose the engine configuration, which proved to be the wrong strategy: Suzuki managed to get on the podium throughout the season. A thunderous decline that brought Suzuki back to being able to rely on concessions.
Another former Rins boss is Lucio Cecchinello, Team Principal of LCR, who shares the position of Quartararo and Brivio: “Alex has great experience, as well as a high sensitivity and ability to develop the bike. Let’s not forget that he spent many years in Suzuki, where his contribution to the development of the bike led it to win the title in 2020. He is a person who offers everything, he is a very precious resource who will return 100% and will be of great help to Yamaha.”
Rins’ surprising triumph in Austin last year for LCR Honda, which remains the last victory for the Japanese manufacturer, shows that Honda is stuck in a rut from which it is struggling to recover. In fact, if Yamaha has anyone to thank for having managed to bring Rins into its ranks, it is Honda, who mistreated him despite having promised him treatment as an official rider. “Alex didn’t want to leave Honda, but he felt betrayed and that’s why he left,” adds a source close to Rins. HRC’s short-sightedness allowed its most direct competition to snatch a rider it would have missed following Marc Marquez’s decision to move to Gresini Ducati.
Alex Rins, Team LCR Honda
Photo credit: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
According to what Motorsport.com learned, Yamaha’s interest in Rins began long before the actual hiring and the intention was to snatch him from the competition as early as 2023 by replacing Franco Morbidelli. However, Yamaha did not go down that path because they had just broken their contract with Maverick Vinales in a rather traumatic way and did not want to face the same situation again. But with Rins having signed until at least the end of 2026, the Japanese brand feels very satisfied: “The desire to improve the M1 is a determining factor in understanding the reason for the renewal, as well as the recovery of the satellite team for 2025” .
The company is shaking up its technical division, which began this year with the arrival of Max Bartolini as technical manager, to which is added the implementation of new protocols aimed at accelerating the development of the motorcycle, which is gradually showing signs positive.
Furthermore, Yamaha is working on different chassis and engine configurations, with a V4 powerplant expected to debut in the Valencia tests after the season. The opinion of a rider like Rins, with his sensitivity and experience, probably justifies Yamaha’s insistence on hiring him despite his injuries, as well as the decision to still place their trust in him by renewing his contract.
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