Maverick Vinales says the 2019 prototype engine he tested in Valencia was “what I needed” for the '18 MotoGP campaign, as it allowed him to corner how he wants.
Vinales took Yamaha's only win at Phillip Island in an otherwise dismal year for the Iwata marque, as both himself and teammate Valentino Rossi struggled for much of it with the M1's engine on their way to fourth and third in the standings respectively.
With Yamaha caught out by the engine freeze rules for the past two years, it focused fully on testing two new engines for the '19 season at the post-Valencia Grand Prix test.
Vinales topped the test overall with a 1:30.757s having been fastest on both days, and felt the engine he tested on the opening day was “much better”, especially off-throttle, as he could carry corner speed without stressing the front tyre – something he had been looking for all year.
Speaking on Tuesday about where the engine is most improved, he said: “On braking, especially on braking. Finally I took the new engine, the new version, I felt much better going into the corner.
“I just felt I stressed much less the front tyre and I can keep higher corner speed. That is what I needed all year, to arrive faster to the apex, and I felt quite good.
“So already in the first run out I felt I could turn more and that was the most important thing.
“Still the acceleration we need better drive, because I think it's not set up in the correct way.
“So I think it will not be so difficult to make a good acceleration because finally there is no power in the beginning and then there is too much power. So finally we need to make more laps.”
Teammate Rossi, who was ninth at the end of the test, echoed Vinales' comments on the new motor's engine braking, but also felt acceleration was still an issue, with the Italian admitting he still 'suffers' with rear degradation.
“The engine change also in the engine brake, in the entry, and it's a small help because the bike becomes more easy to ride, and you can be more constant.
“Also in acceleration, it's more or less the same, we tried to have more soft character for spin less and is already help.
“But for me is not enough, anyway we suffer a bit too much about the rear tyre degradation.
“But looks like already after some laps we slide too much. So we have to continue to work, but it looks like we already take a good direction.”
Both tried a second '19 engine on the Wednesday of the test, but the pair were unified in their assessment that it was not a drastic improvement, and will re-evaluate at a two-day test at Jerez this week.
