On Track Off Road No. 190

More than Europe’s
largest MC store
By Neil Morrison
Perhaps that was another. All weekend,
the Suzuki’s pace was strong,
an equal of the Movistar Yamahas
of Maverick Viñales and Rossi. But
Marquez and eventual first corner
crasher Fabio Quartararo were a
step ahead.
But crew chief Jose Manuel Cazeaux
works in a wily way, ensuring
race readiness is rarely sacrificed
for headline grabbing times. Session
results can be deceptive. And
Rins has yet to truly master the
high-pressure, high-stakes art of
qualifying. But with the exception of
Le Mans and the Red Bull Ring, the
23-year old and Suzuki have honed
consistency to a level almost worthy
of a title challenge.
So it proved at the resurfaced Silverstone.
Rins knew a strong start
and combative first lap – two of the
veritable strengths he has added to
his armoury this year – were essential
to contending for the leading
spots. “I knew before the start of
the race that Marquez and Quartararo
were the two guys to beat,”
Rins later said. “If I was with them
in the first part then in the end I
was able to have options.”
As it turned out, the man Rins
replaced would be his greatest ally
here. Marquez recognised Viñales’
own late pace as a concern and
thus refused to relent when in front.
Silverstone’s new surface offered up
grip aplenty but track temperatures
of 44 degrees, an abrasive surface
and Michelin’s inexperience with it
meant rear tyre wear was an issue.
Marquez’s fear of Viñales joining
in meant tyre management had
to be forgotten. As he did at Brno,
the strategy was “to make the front
group smaller.”
From his time in second, Rins could
see the Honda’s drive onto the
Wellington Straight would be his
undoing if he stayed ahead. He was
smart to Marquez’s game of letting
him by on lap nine and knew he
had to hold back for fear of getting
caught out late on. “I was riding one
lap in front of him,” Rins recalled.
“But very quick I let him past because
he was much faster than me
on the acceleration from turns 14,
16 and 17. I didn’t want to show my
weakness.”
It was an inspired move. And it
soon became apparent he wasn’t
just hanging onto Marquez’s lead
on lap 17. A moment on the exit of
Club gave the Honda rider breathing
space, but come the start of
lap 18 and Rins had closed back
in. Then he dared where most
wouldn’t. And not just once. Rins’
– and the Suzuki’s – ability to
conserve the rear tyre has been a
strength that was apparent from his
rookie campaign.
That was decisive as the race
lurched toward its nail-biting
conclusion. Marquez’s top speed
advantage and braking prowess
kept him ahead into the critical
Brooklands-Luffield section. But
his rear tyre was shot. On the final
lap Rins was a full 7mph quicker at
the apex of Woodcote as Marquez
staggered for traction. Twice Rins
tried at the final turn, conjuring
up images of Barry Sheene, one
of Suzuki’s former prodigal sons,
40 years before, by riding around
the outside on the penultimate
lap. Switching to the inside for the
final time brought about one of the
moves of the season.