“Instead of dwelling on the past, my focus is on the task ahead,” says Alex Rins.
Last year’s unexpected victory at COTA was “something special,” but Alex Rins is resolute in his focus as he heads back to Texas this weekend.
Rins delivered a standout moment for Honda’s 2023 campaign when he clinched the RC213V’s first MotoGP triumph since 2021, achieving this feat in only his third outing for the satellite LCR squad.
Despite his success, the Spaniard faced setbacks with leg fractures just two rounds later. Frustrated by the slow arrival of parts from the Repsol garage, he had already made the decision to join Monster Yamaha by the time he returned to action in late summer.
While Marc Marquez holds the title of COTA king with seven MotoGP wins, Rins stands as the next most accomplished rider, boasting two premier-class victories (2019 with Suzuki, 2023 with Honda) as well as triumphs in Moto3 (2013) and Moto2 (2016). Additionally, he has graced the podium in 2015 and 2022.
Having achieved a modest best of 13th place on the M1 thus far, securing a podium finish this weekend might appear ambitious. However, it’s worth noting that before his victory at Austin last season, Rins had only managed 10th and 9th places for LCR.
“Returning to COTA feels great. It’s a track I truly enjoy, and last year’s win was truly special,” Rins expressed.
“I’m eager for this GP as it’s among my favorites. However, instead of dwelling on the past, I’m determined to keep my focus on the present task.”
While Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales made history as the first rider to win MotoGP ‘races’ with three different manufacturers, thanks to his Portimao Sprint triumph, Rins and Jack Miller still have the opportunity to become the first riders to secure GP victories on three distinct bikes.
At 28 years old, Rins believes it’s crucial to fine-tune his own M1 setup to progress further. However, he missed the opportunity to test alongside teammate Fabio Quartararo due to rainy conditions on the Monday after Portimao.
“It was disappointing that the private Portimao test got called off. We were really unlucky with the weather,” Rins expressed. “As a result, we’ve had to adjust our plans and will focus on refining my bike’s settings this weekend.”
While Quartararo’s contract renewal with Yamaha was confirmed during the break between Portimao and COTA, Rins finds himself with a one-year contract set to expire at the end of this season.
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