Miguel Oliveira scored a surprise victory in the second round of the 2022 MotoGP, winning at Mandalika ahead of Frenchmen Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco. A success achieved in difficult conditions, while the start of the race was delayed by more than an hour due to a storm which dragged on.
Álex Rins, for his part, finished the race in fifth position after having fought for a long time for the podium. The Suzuki driver later returned to the journalists about his performance. We transcribe his entire remarks here.
Álex, can you talk about your race in Mandalika?
« Fortunately we were able to take part in the race. I was really worried about the weather conditions honestly. It was a very difficult ordeal. I did everything I could to finish on the podium, I got a good start and then I tried to attack Jack Miller who was second or third at the time, I don't know anymore. I did my best, but as soon as I started to have fears on the front of the bike I told myself that I still had to be gentler with my riding. Later when Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco overtook me, I saw that they both had more traction than me. So I tried to manage the power better when I lifted the bike, but it didn't work. So I lost the chance to catch up with them. But in the end, finishing in fifth position on a circuit where we suffered a lot, it's not so bad and we must be happy with this result. »
The conditions were certainly very difficult, but what would it have been if the race had taken place in the dry? Are you sure you could have managed it better?
« I do not know. The track conditions were really difficult, and in the last corner the asphalt was really starting to crumble. To tell you, when I took off my suit, it was riddled with small stones! From there it was perhaps better that the conditions were those of today rather than completely dry, because otherwise these little projectiles would have been even more volatile! »
You had to wait around 75 minutes before being able to start. Was there a moment when you said to yourself that this race was not going to take place, and did you talk about it between the drivers?
« It is clear that when I saw these downpours of water falling on the circuit, I said to myself that it was probably better to put away my wetsuit and go home. In any case, it would have been difficult to postpone the race to Monday with the flights already booked. In my head I clearly didn't want to go home. But everything ended well, with the rain decreasing in intensity, undoubtedly thanks to the rituals carried out on the track by the lady with the bowl and the mortar! »
Were the rain tires easier to use than the new slick tires with a stiffer carcass?
« I don't know if the wet tires were really better than the slicks, but what is certain is that driving in the wet was better in the sense that we had more space to overtake. »
You were fighting for the podium in the final stages, before suddenly falling to fifth position. What happened ?
« I almost fell in the last turn. I completely lost the front and had to elbow to stay in the saddle. I wanted to stay with Fabio afterwards, but the group in front of me clearly had more grip as soon as they got their bikes up. We have to work on that, because in the first turn, 10, 13 and 14, they could use much better lines than me. »
Anyone wants a souvenir from the #IndonesianGP? 🤪 Pieces of asphalt from the track! 🤯 / Alguien who has a memory of #Mandalika? Asphalt pedals of the track 🤯 pic.twitter.com/gldeUxItFt
- Alex Rins (@ Rins42) March 20, 2022
