While this Wednesday Michelin technicians indicated that temperatures on the track were approaching sixty degrees, among the highest ever recorded at Jerez, the riders of Team Suzuki Ecstar both reported a return to form after the two sessions test and are ready to tackle the rest of the weekend with confidence.
Álex Rins immediately sought to find suitable settings for Friday morning, to establish a constant pace and to achieve good lap times. He also spent time testing the various tire options and preparing for what will be a tough race in very hot conditions.
He finished the day in a good fourth position behind the two Yamahas of Maverick Vinales et fabio quartararo as well as the Honda of reigning Champion Marc Márquez.
Álex Rins set his personal best in the morning, in 1'38.193, in second position behind Marc Márquez which preceded it by 0.252. He finished fourth in the afternoon in 1'38.317, and it was therefore his morning time which earned him fourth place in the standings combined for the two sessions, 0.400 behind Maverick Viñales.
“After such a long time, I'm so happy to be back! It looks like no one got off the bikes because the lap times are still competitive! I'm happy with today's progress, we tried a lot of setups on the bike and I'm ready to continue working for the weekend. Despite the extreme heat, I am comfortable with my physical condition and also with the feeling on the bike. Let's see what happens this weekend! »
“Wednesday was pretty good. For the first time, I was totally happy to finally be back on my bike,” said the Spaniard. “Our bike is no longer the same as during the last test. The engine and chassis of the GSX-RR have been slightly modified. I immediately felt strong and we only made minor adjustments to the settings. I'm ready for the race weekend. »
Rins completed a total of 63 laps in the two sessions. The hot conditions were a challenge, even for the Catalan.
“The conditions were really difficult, very hot. Usually it's only like this at Sepang. I am physically prepared for this, even if the race is going to be very exhausting », assured the Suzuki driver.
“I expect a difficult race. Lap times are so close that almost every driver is within a second. The times during practice are of course different from those in the race. We have to wait and see how the balance of power changes with the settings during the race. »
" I feel good. In any case, it will be very important to do a good qualifying in order to start from a good position on the grid. »
During the test in Qatar, Michelin used a new tire model that matched well with the Suzuki.
“This tire also performed well in Jerez. However, the effect was even greater in Qatar than in Jerez,” Rins explained.. “I think it's due to the different temperatures of the asphalt. We tried the medium and soft blends, and both ended up slipping. »
Photos © Suzuki
