Rins praises Mir for 2020 MotoGP title win, stage set for Suzuki clean sweep

Alex Rins has lavished praise on his Suzuki Ecstar team and compatriot Joan Mir for clinching the 2020 MotoGP World Championship title, as a charging ride from 14th to fourth in the Valencia MotoGP cushioned the disappointment of seeing his title dreams fade.

Though six riders came into the penultimate round in Spain with a mathematical chance to win the title over the final two rounds, Rins - together with Fabio Quartararo - proved Mir’s closest challengers, albeit 37 points shy of the top spot.

With Rins setting himself back by failing to make it through Q1 in 14th place, he nonetheless made stellar progress up the ranks to peak in fourth position at the chequered flag.

In a season hampered early on by a shoulder injury in the opening round of the season, Rins’ title credentials emerged during the second-half of the year with four podiums from the final six races, including a win in Aragon.

As such, though Rins’ title dreams are over in favour of his team-mate Mir, the final round in Portimao could present a clean sweep of riders’ title for Mir, runners-up spot for Rins, the manufacturers’ title and the teams’ title.

“In the end, I wasn’t able to get the title, but I’m so happy for Joan and all of Team Suzuki,” said Rins. “It’s incredible that he won the championship in only his second year, the entire team have worked so hard to achieve this. So the feeling is amazing, even for me. 

“Today Franco [Morbidelli] had a very strong pace and the best I could do was 4th, but I’m still fighting to get second place in the standings, so I’m happy with the result. I’m hoping to finish the season on a high when we go to Portimao!”