As the 2022 MotoGP World Championship season draws to a close, Team Suzuki Ecstar’s staff and riders are preparing to shut up shop following the decision taken earlier this year to end Suzuki’s racing project.
This finale will be an emotional and unusual one for the entire squad, but the aim is to end on a high as sunny Spain awaits. As has become tradition over the years, the MotoGP season closer will take place at Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia.
Spain’s Alex Rins has plenty of fond memories to draw on, often finishing on the podium at the Spanish circuit throughout his various appearances in all classes, most recently in 2020.
Rins has also been boosted by his recent victory in Australia, and the fifth place last time out in Malaysia, so he’ll be aiming to hot step it to the rostrum in Sunday’s last dance.
Fellow Spaniard Joan Mir won what was dubbed the ‘European GP’ held in Valencia in 2020, and the following week he took his first MotoGP crown at the same circuit.
He has also achieved podiums in his Moto3 career here and last year finished fourth.
With his injured ankle now feeling stronger, Mir hopes to bring back some of the superb memories he experienced here two years ago and to celebrate one last time with his squad.
Meanwhile, the MotoGP racing careers of Mir and Rins are not over just yet. Honda Racing Corporation has been proud to announce the signing of Mir for the Repsol Honda Team for 2023 and beyond, while Rins will now ride for Castrol LCR Honda.
Valencia has a spectator capacity of 150,000 and its seating is laid out in stadium style, making for great views for all the fans.
An exciting track located close to a beautiful city with plenty to offer makes this final stop on the calendar one of the most popular of the year.
Photo courtesy Suzuki
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