Assen, MotoGP, J2, Maverick Viñales conference: Confidence, the Valentino Rossi mystery, etc. (Entirety)

The press conference held at the end of qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen brought together Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales, Alex Rins, Remy Gardner and Niccolò Antonelli.

As usual, we report here the raw words of Maverick Vinales, without the slightest journalistic interpretation.

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You seem very happy and very comfortable on the bike…

Maverick Vinales : " Yes ! After Mugello we took some positive steps forward, but anyway Assen is a track that I really like. I push the bike as best I can. You know, in qualifying I knew I could reach the front row so I was very happy when I finished my lap and saw that I was in 2nd place. We worked very hard all weekend in preparation for the race because in the end we always take a step back in the race, so we are trying to work so that I am as competitive in the race as in practice. The team worked very well this weekend. We will try to be strong tomorrow and we will see what happens in the race. Either way, it will be a very tough race. We know that the races at Assen are always in groups so we will have to be ready for the last laps. I will try to do my best.”

Your new strategy seems to be working well and is putting a smile on your face…

“I think so far we have only shown our potential in a few moments. Of course I wasn't very lucky and had to retire 3 times, which I think were the best races for me. But we have to keep working, because there are a lot of races to improve and to prove that we can be strong. Assen and a track that I really like and I've always been good here, so I'll do my best. I'm really looking forward to the race and doing my best."

With these high temperatures, what do you think will be the most difficult part of the race, the beginning, the middle or the end?

“Close to last year. We struggled a lot with the movements on the bike, so it will be very hard, especially on the arms. We will have to be ready. Anyway, on this track, the last laps decide a lot of the outcome of the race so we will have to try to be ready with the tires for the last laps, and try to be smart from the start. You know, you have to be very good during the race.”

It seems that when you are very strong, Valentino is not, and when he is, you seem to be in pain. Is it something that comes from the bike or your riding style?

“Maybe we share just one good bike in each race (laughs)! No, just kidding, it's not like that. Honestly, it's hard to say. It depends on the track, it depends on the circumstances. Several races back, I didn't have enough confidence in the front tire to push the bike. After Mugello, the improvement I felt was in the front contact so I can drive more in my own way. But whatever it is, it's very difficult to say. What happened, for example in Mugello, is that Valentino was very strong, so it’s difficult to say.”

Standings for Q2 of the MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix in Assen:

Photo credit and ranking: MotoGP.com