Yamaha MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales says he needs to 'improve as a lot as a rider' for the 2019 season, after enduring a tough '18 campaign aboard a troubled YZR-M1.
Vinales finished the year fourth in the standings with just one win, and branded his first two-year stint with Yamaha as the “worst” of his career due to the difficulties experienced with the M1.
Speaking at the end of the Valencia Grand Prix, Vinales says earlier in the year he wanted the season to just end, an expressed frustration that the campaign was concluding during a sudden upturn in form for Yamaha.
While vocal about the changes needed to be made to the bike for next year, most notably with the engine, Vinales also says he has to “improve a lot” as a rider.
“For sure many races ago I wanted to end the season, this weekend I didn't,” he said in Valencia.
“I say it's a shame that now we are strong we end the season. I just hope to go fast to Qatar and start again, because there's nothing better than to feel good on the bike.
“There's a lot of work [to do], also as a rider I need to improve a lot, so I think I can work better at home and see if I can be even a better rider for next year.
“Anyway there's a lot of work to do still. But I'm really happy the team understands my riding style and my way to work, just let's hope we can find something really good.”
Expanding on what exactly he needs to change as a rider, he added: “ For example, on wet I always try to make up a lot of the lap time on brakes, and sometimes you cannot do this.
“You have to be smoother, I need to improve to adapt myself to track conditions sometimes.
“Also it happened to me on dry. To adapt myself to different conditions will be one target next year also, but I anyway I think the team will help me a lot because I know some areas we need to improve.
“Also like gearbox, we have to improve it as it's very aggressive, when I shift down the bike is sliding a lot.
“So many things to improve, it's going to make a big difference when we have all the things.”
Vinales believes the hardships he experienced this year will make him “really strong” mentally going forward, and says he “learned to work more in the box” this season.
“This year was the toughest, so for sure mentally going to make me really strong.
“First of all because when I'm going to win [next], or going to go on the podium, I will take it with more enthusiasm.
“I will take it better, I will take two, three days of being happy. Finally I learned to work more on the box, be more close to the people, and be a better person, so for sure it's going to help me so much."
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