Rins “was trying to survive” in COTA MotoGP race

The 2019 Circuit of the Americas winner made a lightning start from seventh on the grid to run fourth at the first corner, before scything into third later on the opening lap.

But his charge for the podium didn’t last long as he quickly slid back, eventually finishing 11.098 seconds behind race winner Marc Marquez.

Rins says he was battling traction issues all race, which meant he…