Alex Rins: The data looks good for 2022 Suzuki, but…

Even before trying the latest Suzuki updates at Sepang, Alex Rins is confident the GSX-RR has already made a step forward in top speed compared to last year.

But in order to put Suzuki back on the top step of the MotoGP podium the factory must improve at a higher rate than its rivals, something Rins says won't be clear until round one in Qatar.

"In Jerez [November] we did an improvement, on the data the speed was a little bit better. Let's confirm also here in Malaysia," he said.

"But it's difficult to know until I fight with somebody - Honda, Ducati - on the straight. Because I can feel a good improvement, but maybe the others improved more than last year.

"I have good feelings but until the first race I don’t know."

Rins said the two-day Malaysian test, which starts on Saturday, will mainly be used to "confirm" the impressions given by the new parts at Jerez, while also trying two different sets of wings and improving the ride-height device.

A specific area targeted by the aerodynamics is front-end grip on the exit of slow corners.

"In Jerez we were trying to find more grip exiting from the slow corners. We saw that maybe it's not a grip problem, maybe it was an aerodynamic problem," Rins explained.

"The problem is that we have good grip but initially we have a lot of wheelie. So maybe in this phase the others are able to keep the front on the floor. It's one thing we asked Suzuki to improve."

"We" means Rins and team-mate Joan Mir, the 2020 world champion who finished third in the standings for Suzuki last season.

While their riding styles are visibly different, "he is more aggressive, using the body on the front of the bike… In the end the setup is more-or-less the same and ther are no big differences between our bikes."

While Mir was left frustrated by failing to win a race last season, it was nothing compared to Rins' troubles. The triple MotoGP race winner took just one podium and was left 13th in the world championship after a string of mistakes.

Unsurprisingly, Rins is now looking to hit the reset button and return to his 2020 form.

"To take again the 2020 feeling," he said. "When I was riding quite fast, strong pace. Let's try to bring it again. Let’s try to learn from all the bad things last year. I've worked hard at home on the physical and mental side. We need to push. Suzuki is working hard so I also worked hard to be at the same level.

"It's so important, this season for me," he added. "But also the pre-season because we don’t have a lot of time to test the bike, just two days here and three days in Mandalika that will be two days because the first day is to learn the track."

Adding to the pressure is that the 2023 rider contracts will be signed sooner rather than later.

"This period is to have new contracts, with Suzuki or maybe another manufacturer, so we need to be ready. We need to show we are going fast," he said.

A Suzuki rider since his 2019 premier-class debut, Rins hinted that the loss of team manager Davide Brivio ahead of 2021 – and yet to be replaced – may have contributed to his woes.

"It's so important to do this job and so important to have good feeling with this person, because in the end we need a guy that we are talking with a lot and the relationship needs to be super good," Rins said.

"For example my relationship with Davide was amazing, he was giving me confidence and power to push."

Suzuki's quest for a replacement team manager has hit some form of delay, suggesting their intended target is no longer available.