Suzuki confirms Alex Rins will miss Spanish MotoGP

Suzuki has formally confirmed Alex Rins will miss the opening round of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship after suffering a fracture-dislocation of his shoulder in an accident during qualifying in Jerez.

The Spaniard, regarded as one of the favourites for the 2020 MotoGP title, fell heavily in the closing stages of Q2 after losing the front at the fast Turn 11 right-hander. Though he saved the initial slip, it meant he had nowhere to go but across the gravel trap at high speed.

With the prospect of a bigger accident coming, Rins took himself off the Suzuki but in doing so hurt his shoulder.

“I was entering the last part of the lap and suddenly I lost the front at Turn 11,” he said speaking on Saturday. “I tried to recover the bike, but I couldn’t, so I entered the gravel trap at high speed, and I decided to drop the bike to avoid arriving at the barriers.

“Unfortunately, I suffered an injury and I felt a lot of pain. I was transferred to the Clinica Mobile and then to the hospital where they confirmed there is a damage, but we still don’t know is this will allow me to race tomorrow.

Though there was some initial confusion about whether he could race today, Suzuki has now confirmed he will be sat on the sidelines for this race.

Considered a title contender beyond Marc Marquez, Rins had qualified ninth for the race though everyone behind him on the provisional grid will no move up a spot at his expense.