Yamaha Movistar Maverick Vinales said last week’s two days test of Jerez was the best he has experienced since joining the manufacturer.
The Spaniard was very pleased with the results, and pointing to is speed in used tyres around the track. Vinales added he was very pleased too because Yamaha could be consistent with many laps on the tyres.
“We were very competitive with used tyres, I could ride the bike really well during all the test. And that track [Jerez] for me is really difficult, I’ve never been fast with the MotoGP here, and I could keep really good lap times, I could push.” Vinales said.
“It’s really important to be just one tenth away from the top here, in that track that I think is the most difficult for us, it’s really good.
“So being competitive in the lap times, normally I just lose two, three tenths when I was 30 laps on the tyre, so that is really important, it’s the most important.” Vinales added.
Vinales ended first MotoGP’s post-season test in Valencia on top, he eclipsing Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso and Honda’s Marc Marquez in the final hour of the second day. However, former Suzuki Ecstar rider believes his promotions to full-factory rider will make a big difference in 2019.
“We need more traction. Still this is our weak point, so I’m really happy to hit these lap times with this traction. It means that the bike is working well.” Vinales said.
“I think first of all we have to find a little bit of mechanical grip, and then we have to adjust the electronics. The electronics right now are quite good, I felt really good with now the traction control is working and the power delivery.
“But still I think mechanically we can improve and we’re going to make a good jump when we improve mechanically on the grip.” he added.
Maverick Vinales and his team-mate Valentino Rossi ended two days test of Jerez last week. (Source:www.dailyexpress.co.uk)
During the tests Vinales rode with team-mate Valentino Rossi. Both riders were delighted to discover that their feelings about which way to go with development were pretty much identical.
MotoGP post-season testing will conclude next February 2019, with two days of running at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.
