Let’s talk MotoGP: Here is the most worrying rider currently

This season continues, quietly, although punctuated by the errors of the two championship leaders. As unbelievable as it may seem, there is not the slightest pleasant surprise at this stage of the year, concerning those who are on the motorcycles, of course. Few stand out, but one MotoGP rider in particular is more worrying than the rest. Even though no one was betting on it, no one expected it to fall so low. Alex Rins is in big trouble.

A lunar sentence

“Luca Marini overtook me, and I couldn’t do anything” declared the Spaniard following the Japanese Grand Prix contested a little over a week ago. Admit that it’s particularly shocking. Because if we often mention the respective cases of the two Honda factory pilots, the situation of Alex Rins is hardly more joyful. Before the start of the season, in my predictions (which have proven to be quite correct so far), I announced that he would sometimes tickle Fabio Quartararo.
And even if I can only admit my mistake, I don’t think anyone can throw stones at me.

The famous Suzuki duo are drowning in the depths of the ranking. Photo: Michelin Motorsport

Rins came out of a very short 2023 exercise, destroyed by a major injury. For his first and only year riding the Honda RC213V, he still managed to win in Austin for only his third racejust after finishing second in the Sprint. And contrary to what I see here and there, he was quite competitive when he rode the Japanese, even at the end of the season. After six years at Suzuki, this demonstrated a good ability to adapt, and this despite the two philosophies inherent to the two manufacturers. Before Qatar, I mentioned his exploits under the awning of Hamamatsu, even if they were already far away at the time.

Clearly, I did not imagine him returning to his level of 2019 or 2020, but at least not being behind Takaaki Nakagami in the general ranking. You read correctly. Rins is behind Nakagami, but also Zarco, in 19th place. With 20 points scored, he is tied with Joan Mirwhich has, roughly speaking, as many falls as races completed. He is also at the level of Augusto Fernandez, who is, if you still remember, a driver for GasGas Tech3 alongside Pedro Acosta.

Rins at bay

Nothing is going well for the man who was so flamboyant in Moto3 and Moto2. In addition to its absolutely catastrophic accounting situation, it is not in good shape. It doesn’t improve in the slightest, Motegi embodying the climax of this black series. Finishing 16th, forty-one seconds behind Bagnaia and six seconds behind Marini, he achieved nothing all weekend.

His post-race statement was depressing. He is devastated, as if defeated. Quartararo, who is having one of his worst seasons in MotoGP, is well ahead. At this point, it no longer even evolves in the same dimension. Franco Morbidelli, in 2023 at least, held more ground against the French world champion. In this regard, one element caught my attention: he clarified that we should not believe that Quartararo’s results at Misano were the norm, but that the Italian route for Quarta’ was a bit like Austin for him. Sorry, but this is factually false.

Déjà, Quartararo has been in a good dynamic since Aragon, and this has continued in Misano. She didn’t leave him at Mandalika, for example, not to mention that he was still in Q2 at Motegi, a more than difficult circuit for the Yamaha. Second, historically, Misano is not that much to the Frenchman’s advantage, at least not as much as COTA for Rins. There are no victories in MotoGP – and even none at all –, while Rins has triumphed twice in the USA. Third, Rins finished second to last in the Sprint at Austin this season, and retired there on Sunday.

This statement was quite strange, because it’s as if it was intended to minimize the real gap between him and his teammate, when it is just abysmal. “El Diablo” has 4.3 times more points, even if he knows the bike, of course, it’s not just at Misano.

Image
rare. Photo : Michelin Motorsport

The same problems

Some time ago, I expressed doubts about its extension. I used the injuries as an argument because he doesn’t seem to be 100%, ever. Tell me in the comments if it has that effect on you, but when I watch Rins, I always have the impression of seeing a pilot in diminished shape, in poor form.. He no longer has the explosiveness that characterized him, that’s for sure. He didn’t shine once this year and visited the infirmary again. Alex came back quickly, but until when? To progress, Yamaha must be able to count on two available riders who want it. Continuity and discipline (its big sister) are the key to getting back to the top. Rins is disciplined, I have no doubt, but is it reliable?

I’m curious to know what you think in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.