During the last MotoGP Grand Prix in Thailand, Alex Rins experienced an eventful weekend, marked by a fall, but also by revelations on his Yamaha YZR-M1. As he struggled to regain his rhythm on the Buriram circuit, he confirmed the fears he shares with teammate Fabio Quartararo: tire warming problems that persist, whatever the conditions.
« Overall it was the same as in the dry conditions “, declared Rinsemphasizing the monotony of his frustrations. It took him several laps to find the right pace, struggling to achieve decent grip. “ It took a long time, a lot of laps to heat up the rear tire. At first I had no grip. Then, after five or six laps, I was able to ride in 1'40 “, he added, showing form that could have been promising.
To put things into perspective, the winner of the race, Francesco Bagnaiaturned into
1’39.794while Rinsalthough competitive, saw his pace drop to 1’41 once he tried to catch up with the pilots Honda
in front of him. “ So I had a group of Honda motorcycles in front, three seconds behind. Once there it was frustrating because I was just recovering when brakingbut they had more traction and top speed “, he expressed, highlighting the performance gap.
Alex Rins :
« with the Yamaha the problems are the same, whether in the dry or in the wet »
Despite everything, the rain that fell on the circuit also played a frustrating role, preventing Alex Rins to test a change in the configuration of his bike made after the Sprint race. “ We made a big change between Saturday and Sundaybut I couldn't test in dry conditions. I only tested it in the wet. », he clarified, indicating that the configuration will be kept for the next Malaysian Grand Prix
in Sepang.
The race allowed Rins to see that the characteristics of the YZR-M1, in dry and wet conditions, are similar. “ This confirmed that the problems were the same as in the dry. On numerous occasions, I drove with Hondawith Marini in Misano, and it was the same thing : they have better grip, better traction and a higher top speed “, he concluded.
A clear observation which raises the question: the
Yamaha YZR-M1 does it have the qualities necessary to compete in the future? Alex Rins
seems to have specific ideas about what should be changed. The road to improvement in MotoGP promises to be strewn with pitfalls, but he is ready to face the challenge.
