Vinales: Difficult to get answers to problems

After enduring another frustrating race last time out at Motegi, Maverick Vinales concedes answers to his problems with the 2018 Movistar Yamaha are unlikely to be found as he prepares for a favoured circuit at Phillip Island.

Vinales’ Buriram breakthrough proved to be short-lived, and potentially circuit-specific, as a first podium since the German round in Thailand failed to translate into front-running pace in Japan last weekend.

The Spanish rider confirmed the root of his difficulties were under braking ‘in every corner’ at Motegi but hopes the issue is less painful at the fast and flowing Phillip Island circuit.

Vinales accepts any solutions are unlikely to be produced between now and the end of the current season with his YZR-M1, with thoughts already moving to the post-season Valencia test next month, as he aims to enjoy the race in Australia following a tough campaign.

“I need a different bike than what we have now,” Vinales said. “I don’t need a different swingarm or anything, I need a different bike. I need a different kind of feeling on the bike so let’s see.

“I am really curious to see in November what we can do in the test. Here, trying to be competitive, it is the most important thing. This track is good for me and really suits my riding style. I think if the bike is not at the maximum here then I can do the step to be there at the front.

“If one track can suit the bike it is this track, or Assen or Silverstone, where you don’t have to brake.

“Our problems start in the braking zone so if you don’t have to brake then the bike is okay. We need to keep focused a lot and also don’t play too much on the set-up.

“Just get one good set-up in FP1 and working, as a rider, hitting the lines. On this track if you have a good line then you have a good lap time.”

Reflecting on his second season at Movistar Yamaha, Vinales has urged the team to focus on next year’s bike which suits his riding style, which varies to team-mate Valentino Rossi’s in the Spaniard’s eyes, while also aiming to find a way to get the bike to work with Michelin’s tyre compounds having suffered for grip and traction at various tracks this year.

“This year has been so difficult to get an answer on the problems,” he said. “I think Yamaha need to change a little bit their minds.

“I ride quite differently to Valentino and I ride more stop-and-go in the corners, braking later and deeper, and the bike from this year is not working for me. We need to focus on 2019 to try to find a bike that also suits the Michelin tyres because to generate the corner speed it does not suit the Michelin tyres so let’s see. I am curious to see what Yamaha brings in the Valencia test.”