Breaking news

MotoGP

Vinales not "obsessed" over 11-month win drought

Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales says he is not “obsessed” about his winless streak in MotoGP that has now stretched to almost a full year.

Phillip Horton

Edited: Apr 20, 2018, 10:55 AM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing

Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing

Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing

Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing

Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing

Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing

Jack Miller, Pramac Racing, Maverick Viñales, Yamaha Factory Racing

Vinales opened his Yamaha career with back-to-back victories at the start of 2017 and followed it up with another win at Le Mans two rounds later to build a healthy lead in the standings.

But the Spaniard's form then dipped and he slipped out of contention for last year’s crown. He has taken just four podiums in the 15 races since, amid ongoing struggles to recover his feeling on the M1.

Speaking about his 11-month win drought, Vinales said: “When the victory comes, it will come. You have to work, get the most out of the bike and the truth is that it is not something that obsesses me.

“What obsesses me is to get a good result, have good feelings from FP1 and build a good weekend.”

Vinales admitted that Yamaha is “still not ready” after its problematic pre-season campaign but expressed encouragement over gains made in recent weeks, and believes he can return to his early 2017 level.

He holds fourth place in the standings, 17 points off leader Cal Crutchlow, having followed up sixth in Qatar with fifth in Argentina.

“These two races have been good to understand many things for us, the way to go with the bike, especially with the electronics,” Vinales said.

“It was important to stay on the bike, get some points, get a good feeling especially at the last part of the race I felt really good with the bike.

“I think if we improve just a few things we can be as strong as last year so I can't wait to start and push every corner.”

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Weekend preview (April 20-22): MotoGP, Karthikeyan and more

Next article Lorenzo: Stewards, not riders, at fault for MotoGP aggression

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Phillip Horton



Verstappen serves remainder of Interlagos punishment

Formula 1

Formula 1

Verstappen serves remainder of Interlagos punishment



Sauber launches young driver programme

Formula 1

Formula 1

Sauber launches young driver programme



Marquez: Argentina criticism gave me "special motivation"

MotoGP

MotoGP

GP of the Americas

Marquez: Argentina criticism gave me "special motivation"

More from

Maverick Viñales



Maverick Vinales “thinking every night” about future: “I haven’t given up yet”

MotoGP

MotoGP

Japanese GP

Maverick Vinales “thinking every night” about future: “I haven’t given up yet”



Maverick Vinales: “I don't understand what KTM wants from me”

MotoGP

MotoGP

Japanese GP

Maverick Vinales: “I don't understand what KTM wants from me”



Tech3 KTM confirms Maverick Vinales’ comeback for Japanese GP

MotoGP

MotoGP

Japanese GP

Tech3 KTM confirms Maverick Vinales’ comeback for Japanese GP

More from

Yamaha Factory Racing



MotoGP to fine riders €5,000 for failing to attend promotional events

MotoGP

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

MotoGP to fine riders €5,000 for failing to attend promotional events



Risky or good for the show? MotoGP riders divided on 2027 weekend format change

MotoGP

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

Risky or good for the show? MotoGP riders divided on 2027 weekend format change



Alex Rins jokes “I sh*t my pants” as Jack Miller gives him MotoGP taxi ride

MotoGP

MotoGP

Japanese GP

Alex Rins jokes “I sh*t my pants” as Jack Miller gives him MotoGP taxi ride

Latest news



WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times

WEC

WEC WEC

Barcelona

50 min

WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times



Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season

NASCAR O'Reilly

NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly

Phoenix II

2 h

Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season



Kaden Honeycutt wins incident-free Phoenix NASCAR Truck race, extends points lead

NASCAR Truck

NSTR NASCAR Truck

Phoenix

6 h

Kaden Honeycutt wins incident-free Phoenix NASCAR Truck race, extends points lead



GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

11 h

GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend

Feature

Discover prime content



MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

By Richard Asher

MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together



Five things we learned from MotoGP's brutal Indonesian Grand Prix

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

By Richard Asher

Five things we learned from MotoGP's brutal Indonesian Grand Prix



The contrasting tactics used by Ducati and Aprilia in MotoGP 2026 title fight

MotoGP

Japanese GP

By Rachit Thukral

The contrasting tactics used by Ducati and Aprilia in MotoGP 2026 title fight



Five things we learned from MotoGP Japanese GP after tyre drama

MotoGP

Japanese GP

By Rachit Thukral

Five things we learned from MotoGP Japanese GP after tyre drama

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe