Alex Rins: Yamaha's Struggles in Hot MotoGP Races
After a season-best seventh place finish in Australia, Alex Rins faced a challenging weekend at the Malaysian MotoGP, managing to salvage a 13th-place finish amidst a hot and slippery race. Despite qualifying two places higher than at Phillip Island, Rins encountered significant rear tyre wear in the early laps, dropping as low as 16th.
However, his persistence paid off as several riders ahead retired, allowing him to finish 13th at the chequered flag. Rins attributed the team's struggles to low grip levels and high temperatures, stating, 'We've been struggling since FP1, and it seems to affect us more than others in these conditions.'
He explained his strategy, saying, 'In the beginning, I could have gone faster, but I was focused on the end of the race. My smooth riding on the first seven laps, which led to losing positions, helped me maintain 13th place in the final laps.'
Despite the challenges, Rins remained optimistic, stating, 'It was a tough weekend, but we need to keep going.'
Interestingly, Rins was one of the few riders who opted for the medium front tyre instead of the soft one, but he dismissed this as the primary issue, noting, 'This isn't the first time we've struggled with low grip and high temperatures, so I don't think it's the tyre.'
Pramac Yamaha's Jack Miller finished directly behind Rins in 14th place, while team-mate Fabio Quartararo achieved a better-than-expected fifth place from fourth on the grid.
With Peter's 20-year experience in the paddock, he has witnessed the rise and fall of Valentino Rossi and the Suzuki exit story, as well as Marc Marquez's injury issues, providing valuable insights into the MotoGP world.
