Alex Rins has admitted that his two-season stint with Yamaha in MotoGP has been mentally challenging, but said the professionalism of his crew has helped him get through the difficult periods.
The six-time MotoGP race winner joined the factory Yamaha team in 2024 after a tough final year with LCR Honda, which was heavily affected by a serious leg injury suffered at Mugello. Expectations were high, as Rins had previously enjoyed success with Suzuki’s inline-four engine from 2017 to 2022.
However, Rins has struggled to rediscover his race-winning form on the Yamaha. Across two seasons, his best result has been seventh place at the 2025 Indonesian Grand Prix. Although there were flashes of potential in 2025, including a strong qualifying performance and podium challenge at Mandalika, consistency remained an issue.
He eventually finished the season 19th in the championship with 68 points, behind fellow Yamaha riders, while team-mate Fabio Quartararo enjoyed a far stronger campaign with multiple podium finishes and over 200 points.
Despite the struggles, Rins revealed that he never felt the need to change personnel around him in the garage, crediting the people he works with for easing the mental strain.
He explained that while the situation has been tough psychologically, having a strong and professional group around him makes it more manageable. According to Rins, the team works hard to keep him focused and in the right mindset during challenging moments.
Rins added that he has full trust in his crew and believes they are among the best, noting that Yamaha has retained the same team for the upcoming season.
The 2026 campaign will be the final year of Rins’ current Yamaha contract. He and Quartararo are set to officially launch Yamaha’s 2026 season at an event in Jakarta on 21 January. The year will also mark a major turning point for Yamaha, as the manufacturer prepares to introduce a V4 engine in MotoGP for the first time in the modern era.
