Jerez Test: Rins: 'I need to say sorry to Suzuki…'

Suzuki became the fifth MotoGP factory to debut a swingarm attachment when the tyre cooling/downforce device was fitted to the GSX-RR of Alex Rins during Monday's post-race test at Jerez.

But the Spanish Grand Prix runner-up promptly ran off track and broke the device in the gravel trap.

"When we tried it, I ran off at Turn 8 and I need to say sorry to the Suzuki guys because I broke it in the gravel!

"Then I did two or three more laps with it broken, because I didn't know.

"All I can say is that with the 'spoon' broken the bike was more stable!

"Anyway, I think we tried most things today, including a new swingarm that I was very consistent with. In the acceleration areas and long corners it is more stable."

Rins, just one point behind title leader Marc Marquez, set the eighth-fastest lap having skipped a time attack.

"I did not put any soft tyres. We just focused on the rhythm, with the different swingarm and a lot of things on the electronics. Not a lot of setup work. I’m quite happy because sincerely lap-by-lap I've been very constant, ‘38.0, it was easy.

"Now we head to Le Mans with a really strong package and I’m happy with what we’ve done."

Rookie team-mate Joan Mir was sixth quickest.