Maverick Vinales says his Yamaha is “on a good level” after finishing third at the MotoGP Dutch TT, but admits “still there is a lot of work to do” to the M1's electronics.
Yamaha has now gone a full calendar year without winning a premier class race, while Vinales' hasn't scored a podium since the Americas Grand Prix in April.
Leading the race at brief stages during the manic 26 laps, Vinales had to settled for third in the end after Suzuki's Alex Rins scythed past him at the fast left of the Ramshoek on the final tour.
Vinales believes he has “recovered a lot of confidence” during the Assen weekend, though admits the Yamaha's electronics still need to be improved.
“Nice race, nice race. Unluckily, I went out in the last laps and I could not fight for the win but anyway I am happy,” said Vinales, who now sits 47 points down on standings leader Marc Marquez.
“We recover a lot of confidence in that weekend, especially work really well for the race. Still the bike needs to improve especially on electronic.
“Was good to be with the fast guys today because I know the point to improve. I think our bike is on a good level, on chassis I think we are really good in the fast corners I felt great.
“Just need to improve a little bit the electronic, we are coming in a good way but still there is a lot of work to do so I am happy that we were there even if the bike is not at the maximum yet.”
Vinales has typically lost numerous places and struggled for pace in the early laps of races this season, but felt “even better than in the last laps” in the opening stages of the Assen race.
Conceding the nature of the circuit does suit the Yamaha, Vinales believes the team's focus on race set-up rather than qualifying – in which he was sixth – was the “correct one”, and hopes the Japanese marque can “bring something big” during the summer break aid his title charge.
“For sure I felt good with the full tank, even better than the last laps of the race because was so difficult,” he said.
“We prepared the bike for the first laps, was nice to feel strong in the beginning, nice to overtake many riders, a lot of contact, I think was some good moves.”
He added: “I think the track helps a lot because it is a good track for me, I know how to go fast here in Assen. Anyway, I hope the problems are fixed.
“Still on the electronics we need to improve because compared to the opponents, I think we are far. But we are in a good way.
“I think the way we work this weekend was the correct one, working a lot for the race, not for one laps.
“Usually we were faster in qualifying, the result would be better on Saturday than Sunday, and here totally the opposite.
“We need to keep working like that, improving step-by-step, hoping in the summer break Yamaha can bring something big and we can have the chance to fight for the title.”
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