Italian MotoGP: Crew chief calms Rins' wheelie concerns, Suzuki has 'something'

Alex Rins concerned when watching replays of the 2019 Mugello MotoGP race. Knows Suzuki also face a tough time on the straight due to the new ride-height devices this weekend, but factory will bring 'something' to increase top speed.
Alex Rins, MotoGP, Portuguese MotoGP 17 April 2021
Alex Rins, MotoGP, Portuguese MotoGP 17 April 2021
© Gold and Goose

Already fearing the lack of a ride-height device will hurt Suzuki on the fast Mugello straight this weekend, Alex Rins was 'a bit scꦑared' at the ground he was losing due to wheelies when watching replays of MotoGP's most recent 2019 Italian race.

Despite the issue, Rins finished that event in fourth plac🤡e, just 0.535s from Ducati race winner Danilo Petrucci.

But that was before the introduction of ride-height systems, an extension of the holeshot device which allows riders to lower the back of the bike onto the straights providing greater accelera🀅tion and less aerodynamic drag.

All of the grid except Suzuki now has the device available, with Pramac Ducati's Johann Zarco setting a new all-time MotoGP speed record🅰 at Qatar earlier this year. Going off previous seasons, the Mugello speeds should be even quicker.

"This is the question ♚everybody is asking; What will happen with the Ducati speed this year with the rear device?" said Rins.

Remote video URL

"I was checking the race from 2𝓰019, and we were losing a lot, especially on the straight, but a lot on the wheelie area when exiting from the last corner.

"I was a bit scared so I called my crew chief Manu▨, 'Hey Manu,𓂃 I checked again the race and we were losing a lot in this area', and he said 'yes, don't worry, we have improved a lot the wheelie area. After this race in 2019 we were pushing a lot to improve this side, and we will not have wheelie in that phase'.

"So for sure we will improve on the straight. 📖But yeah, let's see where we are in terms of speed with the Ducatis, with the Honda, with KTM who are also using the [ride-height] device, with Yamaha♍..."

But Rins alඣso revealed that Suzuki has something else up its sleeve to help mitigate the top speed deficit this weekend.

"We still don't have this [ride height] device but we have something for this race, I can't say anything, but for sure we will h🌞ave more speed than in other r🍷aces.

"It's something completely new. We haven't tested it yet, but in Japan they believe it will work, butᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ꦿᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ it's not a big change.

Rins arri🌠ves at Mugello seeking his first points sinc🉐e Qatar, after falling in the last three races.

"I'm feeling good, I'm feeling quite conf🐓i♚dent. We analysed everything from Le Mans, I hope that we did a good plan for Mugello. And I'm quite optimistic.

"We know this track wi🔯ll not be easy with the [ride height] devices for Ducati, Honda and Yamaha but we will give our 100%."

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