“I THINK WE ARE NOW READY FOR VICTORY”Featuring: Álex Rins

What is the hardest part of winter, the weather or the inactivity?I think the hardest part of winter is waiting. Yes, waiting, the inactivity.

How do you fill your time during the winter break?When I have time off I try to do many things, train, have some fun, spend time with friends and my family.

Are you one who likes to escape to the sun or do you prefer mountains?I prefer mountains, yes I am more of an explorer!

Tell us what gift you got for Christmas...2019 has brought me a new toy; my MotoGP bike that I am going to ride again soon.

What is the hardest thing about going back to work?I believe that there is nothing very hard in my work. In the end I do what I love, that is to ride a motorcycle, and I am very satisfied with this.

Are you biting your nails counting the days until the 2019 MotoGP World Championship?Yes, Yes, Yes... I am waiting and looking forward to the first race in Qatar!

Tell me, what’s your aim for this new season…To gain a lot of experience, try to improve on last year’s results, and try to get a victory.

Can you reveal something new for this year? Something about your livery…At the moment, I can’t tell you anything…

Do you dare to tell us how many kilos you’ve put on during vacation?I have no idea how many kilos I have picked up. I was lucky that I ran out of batteries on the scales and they don’t work ... (laughs)

What have you been able to do this winter that you usually can’t because of your professional career?This winter I took the opportunity to go on vacation, to spend the new year away from home, in Porto, and I really enjoyed it a lot.

In the absence of MotoGP, the best way to entertain yourself is ...The best way to entertain me when I’m not at the MotoGP is with motocross, a trials bike, and going to the gym ...

Ski or snowboard?I am more into skiing.

Fireplace or heating?I like the fireplace more.

How much have you missed your GSX-RR?I've missed my GSX-RR a lot, yes.

Have you ever named your motorcycle? Will you do it this year?I have never thought about giving my motorcycle a name, but maybe this year we can think of something...

How much do you think the bike will have grown during winter in Hamamatsu?I hope the bike has grown a lot…but not in size or weight! Surely there will have been some important progress and development.

What do you want from this bike, that the predecessor lacked?That has a little more top speed and to be a bit stronger on the brakes.

After a successful 2018, how far do you think you can go this season?Well, last year was a great year for Suzuki, we managed to develop the bike a lot and I think the objective for this year is to achieve the victory that we lacked in 2018. And, in my case, continue to grow as a rider and gain even more experience.

How much have you improved as a rider and how much do you still need to grow?Well, I think I have improved a lot with Suzuki, I have lived through many experiences, I have grown in maturity riding with the top guys in front, and in all kinds of situations, although of course I still have so much to improve on. In the end you never stop growing and learning new things.

This season you must take on the role of number 1 rider when developing the bike. How much does it motivate you, and how much pressure do you feel from this role?Pressure? None. In the end, since last year I am very focused on my bike and the development of the GSX-RR. This year I can’t rely on having an experienced rider alongside me, but I think it's not a big problem. We have to focus on our own work, on our development, and try to help Suzuki to make a winning bike.

What is the primary objective for your third season in MotoGP?Well, the first goal is to make a competitive, race winning bike. We have to keep getting experience, but I think we are now ready for victory.

What would you ask for this new 2019 bike that perhaps was lacking in the 2018 prototype?I think we had a good package with the previous bike. We managed to make avery good machine, and coming into 2019 we have tried to make a bike that’s improved a bit in all aspects: in braking, acceleration, and top speed...

It's been a couple of years since you joined the team, how much has Team SUZUKI ECSTAR improved in this time?The team has improved a lot. Both me and the team are growing every time we test, and always gaining more experience. The bike has already improved a lot from 2017 to 2018 in terms of engine performance and concerning the chassis as well, and we hope that this year the contrast will be similar or even better.

The Sepang test is coming soon, does it take a while to feel comfortable on the bike again after a long time off it?The winter feels very long and I really want to get back on track, and the first time I get on the bike will be in Malaysia, after a few months without riding the MotoGP bike. Yes, for the first day it is a bit complicated, but I have trained during this pre-season in the gym and in Andorra to arrive as prepared as possible.