MotoGP Jerez 1: despite the accidents, Alex Rins does not forget FP3 and Marc Marquez

There were emotions during this Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez which opened the 2020 MotoGP season with great fanfare. Energy needed to be released after less confinement and the fear of a blank year due to the pandemic. She was released. For the better with Fabio Quartararo but also for the worse with Alex Rins and Marc Marquez. These two had words at the end of FP3. The first accused the second of having hindered him in his fast lap and the second replied that, under yellow flag, he had to slow down. An explanation which did not convince the Suzuki official, the proof…

alex rins et Marc Marquez have one thing in common after the first Grand Prix of the 2020 calendar which was that of Spain. They will not find themselves on the same track Jerez this weekend for the Andalusian Grand Prix. Because both are now injured. That being said, alex rins did not give up hope of riding on Friday, despite his condition...

In fact, he announces: “ This is a championship in which it is important not to give up and we already regret missing a race because of this injury. There were many injuries in this race and many falls. Too bad Crutchlow is also injured. But we must look to the future. As far as things go, I'm here and I have a little shoulder mobility ».

Rins wants to ride his Suzuki on Friday

A state that gives him hope: “ I hope to test myself on Friday. Let's see how it goes. If I get on the bike and can't do two laps in a row, we'll see. But until we don't try, we won't see the possibilities we have. Quartararo, Márquez, Maverick and Dovi had a great race and will be the rivals to beat right now ».

All that remains is to beat Marc Marquez, it's now or never, since he will be convalescing for a while longer. An absence that whets appetites, and Alex Rins has fangs about him since the FP3 last Saturday. It will be recalled that at the end of this session, the official Suzuki had to achieve a good time to advance to Q2. He was on a fast lap when he ran into Marc Marquez driving at a senator's train in full trajectory. The official Honda then explained that it was because of the yellow flags displayed.

“Miller stepped aside, Marc Marquez didn’t”

An explanation which convinced the officials who did not sanction Marc Marquez. Alex Rins therefore went through Q1. But he is not at all convinced of his rival's good faith. Because the teammate of Joan mir has his version of the facts: “ Miller heard my motorcycle and moved his motorcycle aside to let me pass, and Marc also knew I was behind him. The yellow flag was at turn 2 and Marc didn't let me pass at turn 5 ».

He later clarified: “ it was clear what happened. There were still two minutes left to finish FP3. Ultimately, it's not to go against a driver or because he is Marc Marquez, or because he is someone else. Suzuki complained because this is the second time we encountered the same thing. Normally when you cut for the yellow flag or whatever, you go off course like Jack Miller did. There was a yellow flag, that's acceptable, but it didn't move until we got to turn 5, which is a little more tense. I respect the decision of the Race Direction, since they are the ones who impose the sanctions, not us ».

The two men left without the slightest point of Jerez after having respectively suffered a heavy fall. One in Q2 and the other in the race. However, what happened on Saturday during FP3 will not help the already tense relationship they have had for some time...