Within the official Yamaha team, like team leader Maio Meregalli, we seem to have taken note of the advent of a new Maverick Viñales. The latter impressed during the first Grand Prix of the year in Qatar by giving a real recital on his M1. His mastery of the race was matched only by his determination to achieve success against the Ducati who were considered favorites, because they dominated the 2018 and 2019 editions at Losail. Meregalli explains this metamorphosis by the fact that the Spaniard feels liberated since Valentino Rossi left. Which also means that he is coping very well with the arrival in his place of Fabio Quartararo.
In recent seasons, we regretted seeing a Casa Particular in Viñales feverish, going from euphoria to depression in a few test sessions. But for the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix, we found the one who had joined the factory Yamaha in 2017, conquering and determined. After getting rid of his new teammate, his overtaking maneuvers on the Ducati, when they began to bend down during the race, did not go unnoticed.
They were noticed in particular in the brand's official box. Mayo Meregalli, the team leader apparently reveled in it, declaring that a new Casa Particular in Viñales had revealed itself. He even has a theory about this rise in power. He says : " without Valentino Rossi, I feel like he has more self-confidence and has also found greater peace of mind in his work », commented the boss to the Journal of Sport. " Although it's easy to tell when things are going well ».
Meregalli praises new aerodynamics
Indeed, it will be necessary to confirm these good dispositions over time and the next Grand Prix this weekend, still at Qatar, will be a powerful revealer. Moreover, Meregalli praises the work done by the engineers Yamaha , a parameter on which the Spaniard did not, however, insist too much in his debriefing, preferring to reveal the wise advice of the new test pilot Cal Crutchlow. While criticizing electronic aid at the start which is still far from the mark.
More Meregalli consoles the people of Iwata: “ the aerodynamics have saved us a few kilometers, but above all the riders now feel very good with the front, they can attack », Explains the Italian. “ Portimao, where we struggled last year, will be a good test, but here our traction allowed Maverick to stay with the Ducati when it started to suffer. I was convinced that when the Ducati tires deteriorated, we would have made it ". And that's exactly how it happened... This weekend's Grand Prix at Doha will he decline the same scenario?
