Rins: 'I need to say sorry to Suzuki…'
'I broke it in the gravel!' - Suzuki swingarm device makes brief debut with Alex Rins at Jerez MotoGP test.
Suzuki became the fifth MotoGP factory to debut a swingarm attachment when the tyre cooling/downforce device was fitted to the GSX-RR of Alex Rins during Monday's post-race test at Jerez.
But the Spanish Grand Prix runner-up promptly ran off track and broke the device in the gravel trap.
"When we tried it, I ran off at Turn 8 and I need to say sorry to the Suzuki guys because I broke it in the gravel!
"Then I did two or three more laps with it broken, because I didn't know.
"All I can say is that with the 'spoon' broken the bike was more stable!
Suzukis swinglet is in the house! Joining the club at the #JerezTest #SUZUKing @motogp #BehindTheScenes #motogptech pic.twitter.com/Yromh9L4os
— Team SUZUKI ECSTAR (@suzukimotogp) May 6, 2019
"Anyway, I think we tried most things today, including a new swingarm that I was very consistent with. In the acceleration areas and long corners it is more stable."
Rins, just one point behind title leader Marc Marquez, set the eighth-fastest lap having skipped a time attack.
"I did not put any soft tyres. We just focused on the rhythm, with the different swingarm and a lot of things on the electronics. Not a lot of setup work. I’m quite happy because sincerely lap-by-lap I've been very constant, ‘38.0, it was easy.
"Now we head to Le Mans with a really strong package and I’m happy with what we’ve done."
Rookie team-mate Joan Mir was sixth quickest.
