Vinales secured Suzuki's first race win since 2007 earlier this year at Silverstone, but by this stage the Spanish rider had already long since decided to take up an offer from Yamaha to replace the departing Jorge Lorenzo.

Instead, Suzuki will field an all-new line-up of Ducati refugee Andrea Iannone and Moto2 graduate Rins, who finished third in this year's standings behind Johann Zarco and Thomas Luthi.

Speaking during a media event in Madrid, Rins said he is aware that the expectation on him will be to get similar results to what Vinales managed during his two-year Suzuki stint.

"I'm replacing him at Suzuki, and this, whether you like it or not, means that I have to try to get better results [than him], which have not been bad at all," said Rins of Vinales.

"The pressure is on before starting, but I hope to be there. It will be hard because there are more electronics and a lot more things to keep in mind compared to Moto2.

"But in the end, every time I was on track with him we have been fighting.

"I'm not saying that I will be doing it in the first two races, but after moving to Yamaha he has adapted very quickly and has been very fast in Valencia and Malaysia, so I hope to get up to speed quickly."

Tough Moto2 transition

Rins injured himself in a crash during the second day of post-season Valencia testing, and was therefore forced to sit out the subsequent private test at Jerez - although he has now recovered and has recommenced training.

Up until the accident, the 21-year-old noted how much more physical the MotoGP bike was compared to what he has been used to for the last two seasons in Moto2.

"I spent a month resting at home [after the crash] and I feel a lot better, I can have a normal life," said Rins.

"Last Thursday I was on the bike to train, to see how my back was doing, and I felt great.

The bike felt incredible, but it's true that it requires a lot more physical preparation than I was used to. The first day [of testing] before lunch I was exhausted. The change was very hard.

"When I rode it for the first time in Valencia on the first day it was just to see how everything worked.

"I went out without much electronics and I noticed a big change compared to Moto2."

Additional reporting by Sergio Lillo