Why MotoGP winner Alex Rins (30) turned down the Superbike World Championship

Alex Rins is one of the big names in the MotoGP paddock. After finishing as runner-up in the smaller-capacity classes of the World Motorcycle Championship, he moved up to the premier class with Suzuki for the 2017 season. His rookie year was followed by a strong debut season with five podium finishes, and then his first victory in the top flight in 2019.

With Suzuki’s withdrawal from the GP paddock, Rins’s career also hit a snag. Although the Catalan, who had found a place at LCR Honda, managed to secure another victory there (Austin 2023), his move to the Yamaha camp inevitably saw his form decline. Consequently, his glorious 18 Grand Prix victories are offset by dismal World Championship finishes of 18th and 19th – and things are no better in the current season.

Severe crashes have also not helped matters. In particular, the crash at Mugello – tragically just weeks after his triumph in the USA – took its toll. Even though Rins considers himself to be in top form, complicated fractures to his right fibula severely restrict the 30-year-old’s mobility, at least when walking.

Once it became clear that Alex Rins’ career would come to an end with the start of the new 850cc era, he too began to look for alternatives. As reported, the Spaniard had options on the table for a move to the Superbike World Championship paddock. To the surprise of many, he decided against it. SPEEDWEEK.com spoke to the MotoGP works rider during the Austrian Grand Prix about his momentous decision to step away from the world of motor racing for the time being.

Alex Rins: “It’s true, I held talks about a move to the World Superbike Championship. There were offers from the Ducati customer teams Go Eleven and Barni. But after giving it a lot of thought, I decided against it. And that’s because, in both cases, I wouldn’t have had an official bike at my disposal.”

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The Spaniard went on to explain: “There’s no question that both teams are professional and are doing a very good job in the Superbike World Championship, but ultimately I didn’t want to find myself back in the situation I’m in now. I feel I’m at 100 per cent in terms of my riding ability, I feel I’m at my peak in terms of performance – but I can’t translate that into results with the machinery I’m riding. It wasn’t an easy decision, partly because I’m less familiar with the Superbike world than I am with the GP paddock.”

Rins, who appeared anything but downcast at the meeting, concluded: “I’ll remain a motorcyclist; I’ll carry on training – and have more time for it than before. And as for racing: never say never!”