MotoGP | GP San Marino, Vinales: “Now I can fight for the victory”
We found a happy and smiling Maverick Vinales at Misano Adriatico, on the track where I got back on a MotoGP bike last year after leaving Yamaha. Maverick Vinales is now a distant memory, grim-faced and nervous. The opinion is common to many in the paddock, this is the happiest Vinales we have ever seen. The newfound happiness also manifests itself on the track where he continues his progress and can now fight to win again in MotoGP.
A VINALES WITH A SMILE IN THE MIDDLE FOR HIS FRIDAY
Let’s start with how your Friday went
“I’m disappointed because I didn’t have a good time on the soft tires but the positive thing is that with the tires we will use in the race I had a great feeling and a great pace. It means that we will have a big opportunity in the race and we will keep pushing“.
It seems that your RS-GP is finally in your hands
“I always feel better on the bike. Here at Misano I have always enjoyed shooting but it is incredible how much I have improved in just one year. I did 1’31 “8 on medium tires while my qualifying time last year was 1’32” 3. It was a really impressive improvement and I’m really happy“.
Do you think you can still improve over the weekend?
“Yes of course, we still need to improve in the fourth sector. We can improve them a lot! And then you know, we can improve a little even in the first sector. If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, I think I’ll aim for the front row“.
CONSTANCE PAYS
Maverick you are the only pilot MotoGP that still hasn’t fallen this year, how do you feel?
“I owe more (tour, ed). It means I can push harder and harder“.
You have always said that to push the limit you have to know where the limit is, do you understand?
“No not yet. But you know, I’m starting to try and do the time attack and you have to when you push really hard. Sooner or later I will fall is obviously, but I will continue to seek the limit. For me it remains positive because we are already competitive for the race. I am really happy with the work we are doing with Aprilia“.
For Sunday it could start to rain just for the MotoGP race, what do you think could change?
“We will go strong in the rain (tour, ed). There is no other piano. With this bike in the wet I’ve always felt good and I’ve always been in the top3, the track has a lot of grip and I think I’m competitive even in the wet“.
ON THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ALEIX
Now you are in a position to fight with Aleix for the victory of the races.
“Yes, I can help Aleix because now I’m really fast, very precise and not just in a race. There are four, five races that I am always fighting with the best and this allows us to have much more data on the corners, on how we open the throttle, the speed in the corners, how we ride the bike, and of course this is a help for us.“.
Your time and that of Aleix in both FP1 and FP2 were almost identified, is that the limit of the bike now?
“I don’t think it’s the limit of the bike, I think it’s the limit of the track today. Because when we mounted the soft tires. We have removed half a second from the time of the race pace simulation that sees us in P1 or P2. I don’t think it’s the limit of the bike but the limit of what could be done today“.
A LOT OF WORK DONE AND A LOT OF WORK TO DO
You have a new aerodynamic package that allows you when you go fast to go even faster in the corners is this what has allowed you to improve so much?
“Honestly, the biggest difference from last year is in the fast corners, especially in sector three. The bike is now much more stable, I don’t think it’s just the wings. I think the bike is much more stable and gives me much more confidence“.
Right now it seems like your limit is on the riding position and how you can’t stop the bike. Once this is fixed, do you think you can improve a lot?
“Exactly! I think I still haven’t found the correct way to stay on the bike when I brake and this leads me to lose tenths on the track. It is good that tests will arrive on Tuesday because working on that while in the race weekend it is not possible to do so. We will try completely different handlebars, completely different saddles, all to give me the possibility to be more comfortable in the saddle and try to have more strength on the bike. I think we will need a lot and obviously we cannot do these things in a weekend because in FP1 you have to try the race pace, in FP2 you have time attacks and it is difficult to try things.“.
PAST AND FUTURE
Is the confidence you have now with the Aprilia comparable to the one you have with Yamaha? Are you finally at that level?
“The level is different because the MotoGP bikes are going much faster now. The level has risen a lot in recent years and everyone drives much faster. But I don’t think I’m still at my full potential in all the corners. So it is very important for us to bring new evolutions and keep improving our potential“.
We talk more and more about Manu Cazeaux, your crew chief at the time of Suzuki and now Alex Rins’ crew cheif, in Aprilia. Is it true that you will have a new crew chief next year?
“At the moment I don’t know anything about this. We are really focused on our work. If this is the case, we will continue to dare to the utmost. At this point in the season they didn’t tell me anything because it is essential that we stay focused on this year, on these races. We are working well with Giovanni and the way we approach the races and how we improve over the weekend is excellent. I don’t care who will be there next year, I keep – eyes on the prize – and keep working. I did not ask for any changes, I am happy with the team and the results are showing it“.
Mattia Cantarini