For Joan Mir and Alex Rins, 2022 could be the last MotoGP year with Suzuki – What the two have to say about a possible team change
The countdown to the 2022 MotoGP season officially began this Saturday with the first of two days of testing in Sepang. While the teams and riders are working on their bikes for the new year, the so-called “Silly Season” is also gathering pace.
For some riders, 2022 might be the last year with their current team. Many rider contracts expire – and speculation about where they might move to has already begun, for example with regard to the current Suzuki duo.
Both Joan Mir and Alex Rins are only under contract with the Japanese team until the end of the year. Rumours about a possible switch to the Honda factory team have been swirling around Mir in particular for some time. When asked about this, the Spaniard makes no secret of the possibility of leaving Suzuki.
Mir stresses: “Nothing is decided yet “
“For most of the riders, the contracts expire at the end of this year. So in the first part of the year it will be important to negotiate and put yourself in a good position,” said the 2020 World Champion, speaking to ‘MotoGP.com’.
“I feel quite comfortable here at Suzuki. I have been able to achieve really good things here. But nothing is decided. We have to talk about different things, but nothing is fixed. So we will see what happens. “
When asked about Honda, Mir keeps a low profile: “Normally I like to comment, but this time I can’t say anything. I feel comfortable with Suzuki, but you never know. “
Suzuki wants to hold on to both riders
“Suzuki wants to keep both Joan and Alex and we have already told both of them. But at this point of the year, the most important thing for us is to give them as competitive a bike as possible.”
The Japanese manufacturer hopes it will allow them to build on their 2020 successes and challenge for the title again. “At the moment, I’m not focused on negotiating with them, I’m focused on the performance of the bike,” Sahara said.
Asked if he will negotiate when the time comes, he says: “I can’t say for sure. Maybe I will be able to answer you soon. “
Rins also not ruling out team change
Rins, like Mir, is keeping all his options open. Although he admits: “I don’t know if there are other options, it depends on my manager. Honestly, I feel comfortable with Suzuki. I’m not going to say I want to leave, but if someone comes and asks, we will listen to them. “
“It doesn’t mean I will leave or stay with Suzuki,” Rins clarifies, stressing, “I am very grateful for everything they do. I like the bike and I feel very comfortable in this team. I will focus on doing good training sessions and good first races.”
He said he would leave the task of negotiations to his manager Miquel Galvarriato. Rins has ridden for Suzuki since 2017 and scored 13 podiums, including three wins. Mir joined the team in 2019 and became world champion in 2020 with just one win.
The two Suzuki riders finished the first day of testing in Sepang in third (Rins) and seventh (Mir). Rins was only one tenth of a second off the best time of the day.
