Viñales' decision to leave Yamaha prematurely continues to cause debate and fuel conversations, including among former glories. The latest arguments to date were developed separately by Kevin Schwantz and Jorge Lorenzo, but around the same certainty: the Spaniard fled a Fabio Quartararo who deprived him, in one fell swoop, of light at Yamaha…
Si Cal Crutchlow leaving Ducati before the end of his contract and Johann zarco by moving from KTM before the end of his lease emerged from such an act of independence and will, it is not certain that Casa Particular in Viñales, which caused a conventional break with Yamaha , takes the same dimension. It would even be a bit the opposite...
Kevin schwantz et Jorge Lorenzo thus interpret the Spaniard's initiative as an admission of impotence, a capitulation in the open countryside in the face of his newly installed teammate fabio quartararo. And it is true that the arrival of the Frenchman hurt. So, Casa Particular in Viñales won eight MotoGP races for Yamaha in four and a half years and, Quarterly seven in eleven months. Casa Particular in Viñales also mobilized three team leaders at Yamaha in two and a half years.
As a Suzuki consultant, Kevin schwantz knew well Casa Particular in Viñales in 2015 and 2016. What does the Texan say about the behavior of the current sixth in the world championship? “ Seeing him in last place with the Yamaha factory in Germany while Fabio Quartararo finished third in the race was incredible. With a factory Yamaha! And a week later he was fastest in every session at Assen, got pole position and was only beaten by Fabio in the race ", remember Schwantz on speedweek.
Schwantz on Viñales: “it’s not enough to be a good driver, you also have to be strong in your head”
« Both factory Yamaha riders were faster than everyone else at Assen and by a clear margin » continues the American who immediately points out: “ a bike doesn't go from a last place machine to a winning bike in a week. He can go from fifth or sixth place to first place. But a racing motorcycle can't go that far in a few days and become that competitive. Fabio showed it. He finished third in Germany and first in the Netherlands. Of course, the gap in the peloton is narrower today than ever. So if you have a bad day, you can lose three or four tenths. But then you don't move back 20 places... ».
On this basis, he makes his demonstration which brings us back to man: “ it's not enough to be a good racing driver in MotoGP », underlines the retiree aged 57 years. “ You also have to be strong in your head. If the guy next to you wins and leads the championship, you can easily become sad or discouraged. Then you feel broken and beaten. But you should always focus on your work, make the most of it and do your best until the end of the year ».
Un Casa Particular in Viñales diluted by the whirlwind Quarterly is also a track followed by Jorge Lorenzo. He says on GP One : " Maverick gave everything to win with Yamaha, but for one reason or another he didn't succeed. It's certain that having a teammate like Quartararo, who is usually in front of him, is not easy to manage from a psychological point of view and I think that weighed a lot on him. He certainly thinks he is a rider capable of winning the championship and he tried for many years with Yamaha. He failed for some reason and now he wants to try another route. I've done this in the past too and I wish him the best ».
