ALEX RINS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM MOTORCYCLE RACING
Veteran Spanish rider Alex Rins has officially announced his retirement from two-wheeled competition, confirming he will step away from motorcycle racing at the conclusion of the 2026 MotoGP season. The decision brings an end to a distinguished Grand Prix career spanning nearly 15 years across all three World Championship categories.
ùAddressing the media at the Misano Circuit during the San Marino Grand Prix, Rins revealed he rejected offers from the World Superbike Championship in favor of pursuing a new venture in four-wheeled motorsport starting in 2027.
The 30-year-old Spaniard leaves the paddock with a strong legacy, accumulating 18 Grand Prix victories and 58 total podium finishes across Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP. Six of those victories came in the premier MotoGP class, where he proved to be one of the smoothest and most adaptable riders on the grid.
Rins spent the majority of his premier-class prime with Suzuki, securing memorable victories at tracks like Silverstone, Phillip Island, and COTA. Remarkably, he became one of the few modern riders to win MotoGP races with two different manufacturers when he took a surprise victory for LCR Honda at the Circuit of the Americas in 2023.
Throughout his career, Rins frequently contended at the sharp end of world championships. His best overall finish in the premier class came during the 2020 MotoGP season, where he finished third in the standings while helping Suzuki capture the teams’ crown. His consistency was equally prominent in the lower categories, finishing as the World Championship runner-up twice, first in the 2013 Moto3 season after a thrilling title battle that went down to the final corner, and again in 2015 during his debut Moto2 campaign.
However, Rins’ later years in MotoGP were hindered by significant physical setbacks, most notably a severe leg fracture sustained at Mugello in 2023. After moving to the Monster Energy Yamaha factory team, he struggled to find consistent form while recovering from injuries and navigating Yamaha’s ongoing technical struggles.
With his contract ending at the close of 2026 and Yamaha restructuring its lineup for the future, Rins opted to close his motorcycle chapter on his own terms to transition into auto racing.
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