Maverick Vinales says the motivation to stop Yamaha from entering its longest losing streak since in 20 years is “high”, after he qualified third for the MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix.
Yamaha has gone without a win in the premier class since last year's Dutch TT 21 races ago, and risks tallying up its longest losing streak since the 1997'98 campaigns should it finish off the top step of the podium at Misano.
Following its dismal Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Yamaha tested at Misano where Vinales found improvements with the bike's troubled electronic gave him “extra confidence”.
The cancellation of the Silverstone race means Vinales is yet to test the electronic improvements in a race situation, but feels the Yamaha's good tyre conservation at Misano will allow him to be “strong” for the entire 27 laps.
“Yeah, for sure the motivation is really high, [especially] after I couldn't race in Silverstone, as I felt really good,” he said.
“For sure I keep the same momentum, same motivation, in Aragon I did a good job on the test, we improve quite a lot the feeling.
“For sure tomorrow I will push my best, I will try, I will try since the first lap. I think we have a good tyre degradation so I can be strong even in the end.
“Let's see – I'm curious, still we didn't race from when we improve the electronic. It will be interesting to get some data and to see if I can be strong as I was also in Silverstone.”
Rossi: Missing front row “unbelievable”
Teammate Valentino Rossi qualified seventh for his home race, but missed out on the front row by just a tenth – something he says is “unbelievable”.
The Italian also feels he needs to find “two tenths more” on race race if he wants to fight for the podium, as he reckons at least five riders have similar pace to him.
“Yes it’s a great shame because second place is one tenth [away from the first row], so it’s unbelievable, we are very close.
“I did a good lap but not perfect, unfortunately I did some mistakes and it cost me the first or second row. To start from the second or third row is more difficult for sure.
“From the other side in FP4, we improved the balance of the bike, I feel better and I’m not so bad, I have a good pace, also with the used tyre I’m good.
“It looks like I need two tenths more if I want to fight for the podium because we have a minimum of five riders with the same pace.
“So we have to work tonight to try and see if we can make the small step.”
