Alex Rins Extends MotoGP Contract with Suzuki Through 2022

In a welcomed diversion from the ongoing onslaught of COVID-19-related news, the Suzuki Ecstar team has announced that it has signed Alex Rins for a further two seasons, meaning that the Spaniard will be riding for the team in the 2021 and 2022 MotoGP seasons, such as they may be.

The only thing about the news is perhaps the timing, in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown. It has been clear for a while that both Rins and Suzuki were treating each other as their first priority in contract negotiations.

Suzuki has made no secret of wanting to hang on to both of its current riders, and with Rins having won the races at Austin and Silverstone last year, Suzuki’s first victories since Maverick Viñales won at Silverstone in 2016.

The next target for Suzuki will be to try to extend with Joan Mir. Mir had an impressive season as a rookie, and has sparked some interest from other factories, but the best option for the Spaniard is likely to stay put.

For those keeping count, Rins’ signing brings the total rider signings for 2021 to five.