SUZUKI ECSTAR SETTING UP FOR MotoGP SEASON FINALE

MGP-18-Joan Mir-R1

Team Suzuki Press Office – November 13.

The final round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship will be held this weekend at Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia.

For the last 20 years, the Spanish track has set the scene for the season finale, and its location on the Costa Blanca often brings sunshine and an upbeat atmosphere. The stadium style nature of its layout provides some of the best viewing opportunities in the whole calendar.

Alex Rins comes into this home GP after a challenging weekend in Sepang, where he battled through for a solid 5th place. The Spaniard will be hoping for a repeat of last year’s race, where he finished in a strong podium position. This year has marked a clear step towards Alex’s aim of fighting consistently with the top riders, and he will be especially keen to finish the season on a high after celebrating his first MotoGP victories during 2019.

Joan Mir bravely battled through breathing difficulties to finish 10th in the Malaysian GP and the rookie is hungry for more as the season reaches its final. The Mallorcan suffered an early DNF last year but has twice finished 2nd in Valencia in the past. With a best result of 5th so far in 2019, his eyes are still on the podium places before the final chequered flag flies on his debut MotoGP season.

The flat track racing motto of ‘go fast, turn left’ could be applied to the circuit in Cheste, with its flowing feel and high number of left corners. Although it is not a particularly long track, at just 4km, it always brings plenty of action and an exciting atmosphere as MotoGP fans from all over the world gather to celebrate the final fiesta of the season.

Davide Brivio – Team Manager:

“Valencia marks the last race of the season, and of course we want to finish this year in the best way possible. Alex has had some strong results here in the past, so I hope he can repeat that and finish on a high. Joan has another opportunity to show everyone how much he has grown during his first season with us, and I hope he can also finish very well.”

Alex Rins:

“It’s the last race of the year so I want to do a good job, and it’s also a place that I really enjoy riding – there’s always a lot of fans and a great vibe! I’m looking forward to it and hope to end this positive season in a good way.”

Joan Mir:

“I suffered in Sepang because of the humidity, and that’s something I don’t need to worry about in Valencia. During the Malaysia weekend we made some steps and improvements and I was feeling really good with the bike but I wasn’t able to show it due to the conditions. I hope in Spain I can do really well.”

TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF VALENCIA

Manuel Cazeaux – Alex Rins’ Crew Chief:

“This track is special, not only because it holds the last round of the season and it’s a moment to reflect and celebrate, but also because it’s where we begin the preparation for 2020 with the post-race test. From a technical point of view, tyre consumption is something we need to pay close attention to because the track is asymmetrical with more lefts than rights. Turn 13 is a very demanding corner, one of the worst of the year for tyre wear and you have to manage the consumption well. On the other hand, Turn 4 is an easy place to crash because the tyre temperature can be low when you arrive. It’s a real balance. Anti-wheelie is also crucial here in order to assist the rider as best as possible under acceleration. We’re looking forward to the race.”

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