Kiwi Rider November Vol.2 2022 | Page 95

sailing for the squad , but with support from the test riders , Sylvain Guintoli and Takuya Tsuda , and the determination of the young riders , a couple of fourth place finishes were achieved . Moving into 2018 the Suzuki team fared far better , with an impressive nine podiums in the 2018 season with Rins becoming more confident in the class , taking his first MotoGP podium in Argentina , and Iannone putting in some impressive rides – especially in Texas where he wore the Stetson with pride from the top step of the podium . Fast forward a year , and the Circuit of the Americas enjoyed another Suzuki success ; this time it was Rins ’ turn . This wasn ’ t to be the only triumph for the number 42 rider though , and in August of 2019 he took an emphatic and thrilling win at Silverstone . A photo of Rins taking the chequered flag , just fractions ahead of Marc Marquez , with the pair eyeing each other up to the finish line has become an absolute classic - not only in the Suzuki history books , but the MotoGP books too . A fast , young Mallorcan talent named Joan Mir joined the
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