The 2021 season will be special for Maverick Viñales. And in particular because he will be, for the first time, the more experienced of the two Yamaha factory riders. Valentino Rossi left for the Petronas satellite and Fabio Quartararo joined him for a third year on the M1. In fact, in theory, he appears as the leader of Iwata's firm. What will practice give? In an interview, the Spaniard makes no secret of his great ambition this year…
Maverick Vinales has unfortunately never yet experienced great satisfaction with Yamaha . Like that of fighting for the world title until the last Grand Prix, with races where he would assert himself through his performances and his consistency as a solid contender for the crown. The fault is an M1 with recurring problems and also a dynamic that is difficult to put in place in the box.
2020 did not escape this frustration and this campaign shortened and under the yoke of a pandemic which confined it to Europe was perhaps the worst of the one experienced so far with the Iwata firm. So much so that he wanted a break as soon as hostilities ended: “ I'll tell you the truth, I thought above all about disconnecting, relaxing. The 2020 championship was long and very dense, and my priority was to recover. Of course I was able to ride and train a lot, but I really enjoyed this break ».
A break which was apparently beneficial since he approaches 2021 with the bit already in his teeth. He even predicts Moto.it : " it will be the best season, there are no other words. Every year I spend in MotoGP I feel faster and faster, now I know the team and the bike very well, and I have never felt so fit. I really think 2021 will be my best season ».
Maverick Vinales: “Miller will be the real surprise this year”
Will it be enough to play for the title? To answer this question, you have to evaluate the opponents and Viñales, on this point, is surprising: “I honestly believe that the biggest difficulties will come from Ducati, because I found myself battling with them. It has always been very difficult to overcome them. I think Miller will be the real surprise this year.”
He ends by having a thought for his new teammate, fabio quartararo : " I'm very happy, we spent a lot of time together already this year having a lot of fun. It's a good relationship, we are two young drivers and we have a lot in common. And I think it will be positive for Yamaha too ". It will be recalled that the two men will meet for an official presentation on the canvas of the Yamaha factory troops on 15 February .
