Kiwi Rider November Vol.2 2022 | Page 94

ROAD NEWS

SUZUKI EXITS MOTOGP ON THE PERFECT NOTE

It ’ s fair to say that the Suzuki Ecstar Team has had a turbulent 2022 season . With the announcement Suzuki was pulling the pin on the factory team earlier this year , and all title hopes drying up soon thereafter , Suzuki ’ s riders Joan Mir and Alex Rins were riding for pride most of the season . The final race weekend of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship season ended with emotions running especially high for Team Suzuki Ecstar , and what a way to bow out of the MotoGP Championship . Alex Rins led from start to finish in the Valencia GP , taking a whole-hearted victory to see Suzuki out in style . Teammate and 2020 MotoGP Champion , Joan Mir , showed his usual grit and perseverance to take a solid top 10 finish in sixth place . “ Well , I managed to achieve exactly what I wanted : another win with my team ,” Rins said post-race . “ This one , being at home and being our last together tastes extra special and it ’ s very emotional . Over the years Suzuki and I have celebrated some really beautiful victories , but also shared many beautiful moments as a family . I ’ ll miss everybody so much , and I ’ ll carry the lessons with me for the rest of my career .” “ I ’ m happy to take a pretty solid finish in my final race with Suzuki , especially after a tough few weeks . Winning a title with this team is something I ’ ll keep in my heart forever , we ’ ve worked relentlessly during all our years together , but in 2020 everything just came together for us and it was simply fantastic . Thank you to the whole team for their help .” Suzuki leaves MotoGP after an eight-year stint in the category . After re-entering MotoGP in 2014 , Suzuki first tasted victory at 2016 ’ s Silverstone round at the hands of Maverick Viñales . For 2017 the team welcomed a new rider lineup with the dynamic duo of Andrea Iannone and MotoGP rookie Alex Rins . It wasn ’ t smooth

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