The moment of truth is fast approaching with only four races remaining before the 2017 MotoGP World Champion title is awarded. The big maneuvers are approaching and the strategies are being organized.
At Yamaha, we are betting more on Maverick Vinales, third in the standings with 196 points, than on his teammate Valentino Rossi, fifth with 168. Vinales is 28 points behind leader Marc Marquez, and 12 behind second Andrea Dovizioso.
Yamaha was hoping for better in Aragon than a fourth place from Vinales, especially after the Spaniard displayed his speed on Saturday by taking pole position. Unfortunately Maverick missed his start and was only in fifth place at the end of the first lap, then in sixth afterwards when he was overtaken by Dani Pedrosa.
Vinales is only in his first season with Yamaha, but he still has every chance of winning the world title this year. For this, the attitude of his teammate Valentino Rossi will be decisive, depending on whether the Italian helps him or stays out.
This Tuesday the Sports Director of the Yamaha team Massimo Meregalli declared in La Gazzetta dello Sport (paper edition, not digital) that there would be no order to help Vinales to Rossi: “ We have never done it in the past and we will not do it now. At most, we'll tell Valentino not to bother Maverick too much. »
The Japanese Grand Prix will be, according to La Gazzetta, a final chance. "One of the last, but I don't think the last, hopes Meregalli. Last winter, Maverick was very strong in Malaysia and Australia.
“Getting back to Marquez won’t be easy, but we will do our best to try. If in Motegi the grip will be as good as ever as in the past, we will be competitive until the end. »
“I hope that the kilometers accumulated by the test drivers will pay off. »
“That's why we didn't name Nakasuga as Valentino's replacement in Aragon, he was in Motegi today. »
Photos © Yamaha
