Storm under a skull. At least when he's helmeted. Maverick Vinales reveals himself over the seasons spent in MotoGP as a character with a sensitive mind. A grain of sand and the machine seizes up. Morale in good shape and he would almost forget it his grip problems... At the beginning of the year, he said he was looking for a sports psychologist. A qualification dubbed in the environment of a Dovizioso since transfigured. But it only took two positive off-season tests to change the mind of Valentino Rossi's teammate.
The month of last january, the Yamaha official declared: “ I'm trying to find a sports psychiatrist, but it's not easy, because I have to find a good one, who understands me. Sometimes I'm not totally focused, so I definitely need to improve that. I'm the type of person who wants to improve every year and if I find a good sports psychiatrist I'll improve a lot, because last season when I did poorly in the races it was partly because I was unmotivated ».
Less than 10 days before the season opener in Qatar, the Spaniard has found what he is looking for. Nope. For what ? Because he is no longer looking. On motorsport total, he thus confirms his change of heart: “ For the moment, I'm doing well, I'm in tune with myself again, I'm trying to stay relaxed, to avoid any stress. So, for now, I don't need it ».
You will have noticed that it does not definitively close the door to the opportunity... Psychologists can therefore keep their CV close. The one who finished first in the Losail tests even added: “ maybe after three or four races, when the pressure increases, if I lead the championship or not”… But for the moment, he prefers to stay alone: “I try to enjoy driving, to give good feedback to the team and to develop the bike as best as possible ».
MotoGP is definitely a mental sport. On this theme, the Doctor does not deny that sports psychologists can help: “ some drivers may need it or it might help, but it depends a lot on the driver ". It will be recalled that Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso believes that his mental training has played a key role in his rise to title contender status over the past two years.
