The doubts generated by Alex Rins’ performances since his return from a badly broken leg at this year’s Mugello round contrast the confidence placed in him by Yamaha; which signed the Spaniard while out injured and has redoubled its bet by renewing him until 2026 despite still being troubled by injuries.
If we start with the premise that no MotoGP team wants to complicate life on purpose, especially a factory squad with multiple world titles, logic leads to thinking that there is a compelling reason to incorporate a rider who offers more questions than certainties. These doubts are not due to his talent, which has been amply proven in the eight years Rins has been in MotoGP, highlighted by his six wins and 18 podiums in the premier class.
The doubts come from the limitations that he may have on his riding and, by extension, on his results, a legacy of his serious accident at Mugello last year, when he shattered his left ankle and tibia in a crash during the sprint race. Rins has subsequently undergone multiple surgeries to repair the damage in a bid to return him to full health.
Accidents never come at a good time, but this could not have happened in a more unfavourable context for the Catalan, who earlier in 2023 won the Americas GP on a Honda that only Marc Marquez knew how to win on, when the market for riders was in full swing. It was surprising that Rins ended up at Yamaha, especially because when the contract was signed, there was no approximate reference of the physical level that the rider would be able to offer, who was sidelined for most of the remainder of 2023 and missed more races (13) than he raced (seven).
If his signing attracted attention and questions, the renewal a couple of months ago drew even more scrutiny, especially with Rins out injured again as a result of a new heavy fall at Assen. That tumble caused him a new fracture in his bad leg and to suffer two more fractures in his throttle-controlling right wrist, which took him out of action for the next two rounds in Germany and Great Britain.
Until that moment, Rins had accumulated only eight points in eight grand prix, and his best result was 13th at Portimao and Jerez, contrasting with the 39 points team-mate Fabio Quartararo had been able to scrape together in the same timeframe. Add to that his precarious physical condition, and the prospects of finding a breakthrough in MotoGP, there was little to write home about. Despite all the above…
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