With a current total of 85 points after the first five Grands Prix, Maverick is 17 ahead of Dani Pedrosa, 23 over Valentino Rossi, 27 over Marc Marquez, 30 over Johann Zarco and 31 over Andrea Dovizioso. This is the ideal opportunity for the Spanish leader to increase this advantage beyond the 25 points over second which would allow him to maintain the lead in the World Championship thereafter, even in the event of a blank result.
Three victories in Qatar, Argentina and France allowed him to accumulate solid capital, despite a disappointing sixth place in Jerez and a crash in Austin. Is Mugello a field of conquest for Maverick?
This was the case in the past, but it seems less so in the last three years. Casa Particular in Viñales raced six times on the Tuscan track, with excellent results in his first three attempts: second in 125 in 2011, he won in Moto3 in 2012, then finished second again in Moto3 in 2013. It was less good after that with ninth place in Moto2 in 2014, then seventh and sixth in the last two years in MotoGP.
As for qualifying, he achieved pole position in Moto3 in 2012, then second time in 2013. In MotoGP, he was the author of a great feat last year by bringing his Suzuki to the middle of the first row of the starting grid, between the Italians Valentino Rossi et Andrea Iannone, ahead of four other Spaniards, Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo, Aleix Espargaro (then teammate of Maverick) and Dani Pedrosa.
For Maverick Viñales, “ After the Le Mans race, I could only say that I was happy and satisfied. The team has worked at an incredible level and I am sure we will continue to do so. We have a very good bike for a circuit like Mugello, with very good grip, and we should make the most of it.
“With the current level of competitiveness in the championship, the next races will be decisive and it will be crucial to achieve victory in Mugello, and of course I will continue to fight. We will give 100% and we will try to do our best, as always. »
According to the Team Director Massimo Meregalli, « After a good week at Le Mans, where the whole team worked very well throughout the weekend, we now arrive at Mugello, which is the team's Grand Prix. We plan to deliver another good performance here, on a circuit that has always been favorable to us.
“Maverick is still at the top thanks to his victory at Le Mans, where we saw three Yamahas fighting for the podium. We are sure that, with his determination, he will fight at the front again this weekend.
“It’s also an important weekend for Valentino. Unfortunately, he had a motocross accident last week, but he is recovering. He is really motivated to participate in his national Grand Prix because his condition is improving day by day. »
Photos © Yamaha
