Alex Rins, the new rider for LCR Honda, has shared his initial response to the news that Ken Kawauchi, his former chief engineer at Suzuki, will be joining him at Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in 2023 as the team's new Technical Manager. Rins and Kawauchi had a close working relationship throughout their six seasons in the premier class, resulting in five MotoGP™ victories, including the last win of 2022 at the Valencia Grand Prix in November.
When the announcement was made that Ken Kawauchi, my former chief engineer at Suzuki, would be joining Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) as their new Technical Manager, I have to admit, I was a bit taken aback. But as they say, change is inevitable and I wish him all the best in his new role.
Working with Ken at Suzuki was a truly amazing experience for me. He was an incredible leader, always pushing us to be at our best, and his passion for racing and attention to detail was truly impressive. I have no doubt that he will bring that same level of dedication and drive to HRC.
While it will be strange not having him by my side on the Suzuki team, I am excited to see what he can accomplish at HRC. I believe he will bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the team.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Ken for everything he has done for me during my time at Suzuki. I will always be grateful for the opportunity he gave me and the trust he had in me. I wish him the best of luck in his new role and look forward to competing against him in the future.
In conclusion, while Ken Kawauchi will be missed by the Suzuki team, his new role at HRC presents an incredible opportunity for him to continue to make a positive impact in the MotoGP world.