If Maverick Vinales finished the 2016 season in style, with a victory on the clock and the best times in the post-Valencia MotoGP tests, he started it more than badly, with disastrous tests at Sepang.
He explains it to the journalist Manuel Pecino in a very rich interview.
« After the first pre-season test, I left Malaysia in a bit of an embarrassment. I remember very well how difficult the way this test was conducted was because of the electronics. I just didn't feel comfortable at any time, and it was a big disappointment, after finishing 3rd in the Valencia test (2015). I left Sepang 9th, 1,5 seconds behind the fastest... and without understanding why. I was completely lost.
Later, when we did a careful analysis of the data we had collected in Malaysia, we saw that we were very lacking in power and that the traction control was not working. There was a lot of work to do! We also saw some positives; showing that our engine was faster than the others in the category. And this gave us some confidence. When we arrived in Australia, the situation completely changed. I really enjoyed driving at Phillip Island; This was probably my most fun time of the year. »
We know the rest... A fine work of fine-tuning the electronics rewarded with a victory at Silverstone and a very good 4th place in the championship.
The result could perhaps have been even better if two points had not sometimes hampered the progress of the Vinales/Suzuki duo.
The first was the difficulty for the Suzuki to maintain its grip throughout the race. Davide Brivio is well aware of this and Suzuki is already working on this, alongside an even more powerful engine.
The second was the question mark following a number of failed overtaking attempts by the Suzuki rider. A downside noted recently by Carlo Pernat.
Even if, in 2017, it lost its advantages granted by the regulations, there is no doubt that the Suzuki GSX-RR will be very competitive this year.
It’s up to Iannone to make it shine as much as Vinales did in 2016…
