Alex Rins takes 3rd in Austin to head up Moto2 world championship
The Moto2 rookie Alex Rins has managed to place himself in the first position of the World Championship thanks to his first podium of the season.
The Páginas Amarillas HP 40 rider started from the third row of the grid since he scored the eighth fastest time during saturday’s qualifying session at the Américas Circuit (Austin).
Alex made a good star, but before arriving to the first breaking point he touched with another rider, losing a few positions. Therefore, Rins rode in thirteenth place at the end of the first lap, but he started overtaking riders gradually until he reached the fourth place during the fifth lap of a 19 lap race.
In that position, he felt comfortable and decided to stay calm behind the Belgian Xavier Simeon, who rode third and was chasing the leading duet, Sam Lowes and Johann Zarco.
When there were only five laps left, Simeon and Rins caught Zarco, and the Belgian rider touched with Zarco, what ended with the first one crashing and being left out of the race. That’s when Rins had to avoid the crash, through a movement that made him lose contact with the two leading men.
Given this race situation, Rins decided to not take further risks and secure the third place that gave him the lead in the provisional championship classification.
On the other hand, Luis Salom touched with another rider in the second lap, crashing right after. Luis got up and carried on in the last place, with the intention of staying in the race in case it started raining and race direction stopped it, so he could take part in a hypothetical second round.
3º ALEX RINS (PÁGINAS AMARILLAS HP 40)
“I’m very happy with the race. It was so difficult, as well as fun. It’s only my second race in this class and getting a podium is so positive both for me and the team. We hace to improve in race starts, because I’m still a rookie and I need to find a good place since the start. I learned a lot in this round because I rode with the leaders and I saw many things. Leading the championship is good, but I’m a rookie and there are so many races left”.
27 LUIS SALOM (PÁGINAS AMARILLAS HP 40)
“During the weekend we made a step forward, especially during saturday’s sessions. In the race, the bike worked really well. I started overtaking a few riders, and I had just overtook West when he touched me trying to come back in, and I crashed. I got up and carried on riding, thinking that it could rain and the race could start over. But I was having dificulties because the braking lever broke in the crash. In Argentina I hope I can be back in front because the first two races have been awful”.
Source: Pons Racing
