Alex Rins will move up to the MotoGP class in 2017 after signing a two-year contract with Team Suzuki ECSTAR. The Spaniard will join Andrea Iannone on board the factory GSX-RR machines next year, bringing an end to Aleix Espargaro’s two-year spell with the team.
Rins has enjoyed a successful season in the junior classes, finishing runner-up in the 2013 Moto3 season to Maverick Vinales after a last-corner battle before finishing runner-up in his rookie Moto2 campaign last year. The 20 year old, who has 12 career victories to his name, currently leads the Moto2 standings and Suzuki Team Manager Davide Brivio expects him to hit the ground running in MotoGP.
“Alex Rins is a young rider who has already proven to have much talent, always fighting within the top positions of the World Championship since his debut in every class, making him the type of rider who we want to support for the future. To pair Andrea Iannone, an experienced rider with such a young talent as Alex creates a perfect combination for our challenge. We believe that the combination of these two riders, together with the further development of the Suzuki GSX-RR, can help us to create a strong team to compete at the maximum level.”
“It wasn’t an easy choice and we feel sorry for Aleix who we would like to thank for his hard work and the real passion he has continued to put in our project since it started. We wish him all the best for his future but in the meantime we will support as best as we can to try to get the best possible results together until the end of this season.”
