Rins had "no warning at all" about Sachsenring crash
Alex Rins says his Suzuki MotoGP bike gave him "no warning at all" about the crash that cost him second place in the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.
The Spanish rider recorded his second consecutive DNF on Sunday, following on from his accident while running in the lead group during the Dutch TT at Assen last weekend.
Rins had been running a comfortable second, some three seconds behind Marc Marquez but clear of Maverick Vinales and Cal Crutchlow, when he lost the front end of his GSX-RR at the fast downhill right-hander of Turn 11 with 11 laps left of the 30-lap distance.
"It was a pity because I had a good feeling, but the bike didn't warn me at all," said Rins, who remains fourth in the points standings despite the crash.
"I entered [the corner] three or four km/h faster than on the previous lap, and with that I fell in that corner, which is very critical. If you make a small mistake you can't save it."
He added: "It’s a shame, because it’s two zeros [in a row]. Anyway, now first position in the championship is a bit far away, but we can fight for second."
Rins conceded there was nothing he could have done to prevent Honda rider Marquez from romping to victory at the Sachsenring, his seventh in a row in MotoGP at the German venue.
"Marc was a little bit stronger," he said. "He started well, he was in first position, he opened a little bit the gap when I was behind Maverick. I couldn’t try go to with him.
"I think we need to take the positive things. In Assen and here I felt strong, I was riding good in practices, starting well in the front positions."
Marquez extended his lead in the championship to a commanding 58 points over Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, with Rins now 84 points down on the reigning champion.
Asked if he was still confident about fighting for second in the championship, Rins replied: "Absolutely. Now are coming tracks that I enjoy to ride.
"I think we have a competitive bike, so we can show our real potential."
He added: "Now [Marquez] has a good gap to the second one, [more than] 50 points. So I think it will be difficult to beat him. For sure we will try to win races, but he has a good gap of points."
Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont
Alex Rins, Team Suzuki MotoGP
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
Share Or Save This Story
Toyota-backed Sho Tsuboi to make switch from Super Formula to F2
Sho Tsuboi calls for Super Formula engine overhaul as Toyota “can’t properly compete with Honda”
How a Le Mans winner is changing the game for female racing in Japan
Alex Rins jokes “I sh*t my pants” as Jack Miller gives him MotoGP taxi ride
The five riders leaving MotoGP in 2027 - and where they are headed next
Five MotoGP riders who need a big 2026 season
The MotoGP philosophy Suzuki's "madman" installed that Honda and Yamaha can't
Mir: No publicity campaign will replicate what MotoGP gave Suzuki
Rins was ‘crying on the grid’ before taking Suzuki’s farewell MotoGP win
2026 Singapore Grand Prix: Guide to schedule, driver meet-ups, and race week parties
Jeb Burton joins RSS Racing, will drive father Ward Burton's No. 22
Stewart Friesen to run Kyle Busch throwback scheme in Charlotte NASCAR Truck race
Red Bull is overcoming ADUO restrictions but still calls on tweaks for F1 2027
The contrasting tactics used by Ducati and Aprilia in MotoGP 2026 title fight
Five things we learned from MotoGP Japanese GP after tyre drama
How to make two MotoGP grids with a single qualifying session
What we learned from an emotional MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments