RINS LAMENTS YAMAHA’S STRUGGLES AFTER TOUGH INDONESIAN GP

Alex Rins left the Indonesian Grand Prix frustrated with Yamaha’s lack of competitiveness and the problems he encountered during Sunday’s race. He finished 10th in Saturday’s sprint, just behind teammate Fabio Quartararo, but could manage only 15th in the Grand Prix.

The Spaniard said the bike felt markedly worse on Sunday than it had on Friday or Saturday. “The track changes, and everything changes for everyone,” he explained. On his M1, engine braking and traction control were inconsistent, leaving him with a poor feeling from the opening lap through to the finish. The tyres also overheated, a recurring issue for Yamaha.

Rins had hoped to use the soft tyre for the longer race, but the team advised against it. He said he did not regret following that recommendation: “We are a team.” What he did regret, he added, was “the bike we have.”

Yamaha was not the only Japanese manufacturer struggling at Mandalika. Johann Zarco was the highest-placed Honda rider in the sprint, in 12th, while Luca Marini led Honda’s Grand Prix results with 12th. Aprilia and Ducati set the pace, with KTM able to remain somewhat closer to the front.

Rins said Yamaha had been fighting problems since the opening round of the season. Honda appeared to have more difficulty at this circuit than at some others, he noted, “but for us it is always the same.” The results were especially disappointing for the Japanese brands at an Asian event, where strong performances in their home markets are important.