A week ago, on a Losail track which then hosted the Qatar Grand Prix, Maverick Viñales made such a demonstration that he was promised his best season in MotoGP. After a Doha Grand Prix, although contested at the same place, we would now almost put him back in line. If a Yamaha won again during this second round of the year, it wore the number 20 and not 12. However, the manner was practically identical. And the Spaniard finished where the Frenchman, winner this time, and teammate, had crossed the finish line last weekend, i.e. fifth. A scenario that does not please him.
After winning the opening round of the MotoGP in Qatar a week ago, Maverick Vinales was, of course, leader of the World Championship. After his fifth place in the second race, the Spaniard dropped to third place in the general classification. His Yamaha teammate Fabio Quartararo winner in the second race and the Pramac-Ducati rider Johann zarco are now before him.
He explains how he got there this way: “ my race was good, I enjoyed it a lot ", said Casa Particular in Viñales. " The bike is also very good. She has great potential, you just need to improve at the start. I have to get better, there is no excuse. Once we're moving, we're lightning fast. But it's difficult at the beginning. With a good start, my race would have been very different, even with a normal race. In the end, I had to risk more than others because of this ».
Maverick Vinales: “I’m angry with myself”
« I'm angry with myself for not being able to start as planned. My reaction time was too slow and I also got a little wheelie. But I was able to fight to come back and I was close to the podium. I have to work on myself, the bike works well. In the two weeks in Portimao I will definitely become stronger » says the man who, however, never stops practicing departure procedures.
La Yamaha looks more promising than last year. But Top Gun wants to be cautious: “ let's wait a little longer », Warned the 26-year-old pilot. “ It was two races, but on the same track. We need to be patient and understand exactly how great the potential is. It worked well in Qatar, we have to see in Portimao. We suffered a bit there last year, but now it's a new year and we can be strong. I will try to be stronger and make a difference. We have now won two races in a row, that's important ».
« Mentally it's exhausting ", highlighted Casa Particular in Viñales on the current level of competition. “ As soon as you make a mistake, an opponent overtakes you. But that will change in Portimao, where we will no longer be so close to each other. We have been in Qatar for five weeks now and have done a lot of laps so everyone has been fast. In Portimao we will see a more realistic picture of the championship ».
MotoGP Qatar 2 J3: classification
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
