Breaking news
MotoGP Thailand GP
Vinales: Thailand a return for "normal Yamaha"
Maverick Vinales said his bike behaved like a "normal Yamaha" again during the Thailand Grand Prix, as most of his gains came from fast corners.
David Gruz
Edited: Oct 7, 2018, 1:09 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Yamaha's historical strong suit has been fast, flowing corners, which traditionally made the Iwata team the favourite on tracks such as Assen or Phillip Island.
However, during its recent struggles, Yamaha has been unable to capitalise on that strong trait, and has not won a race for 24 grands prix now.
But Vinales and Valentino Rossi made a big step forward in Thailand, with the former taking the team's first podium in five races and the latter finishing a close fourth.
Vinales explained that he could take advantage of the bike's strength in fast corners again around Buriram.
"Honestly, it is quite strange because in Aragon I could not lean, was impossible," said Vinales. "This weekend was [one of] the stronger points.
"Where I felt strongest was sector 2 and 3 where you only have to do [high] speed corners. That is normally our main power, this weekend was actually good, was riding like the normal Yamaha."
Vinales finished right behind the battling duo of Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso, but admitted that he was not thinking about attacking them as he was more focused on defending third from Rossi.
"In the last lap I was more thinking about what was coming from the back than the front, I know I didn't have the chance," he admitted.
"I lost quite a lot in the first part of the acceleration so I could not brake 200 metres later to try to overtake. I just defended the podium [position], and as I saw, many things that we need to improve."
He added that Yamaha's recent improvements stem from changes to the bike but also a different tyre than usual, and only in the next race at Motegi will the team learn if it is a temporary or permanent upturn in form.
"I believe it is the changes we did on the bike but the rear tyre is also different," said Vinales. "For sure it helps us a lot turning the corner let's see if it is not the rear tyre and if it is the changes we did on the bike.
"Anyway I felt strong on the race, was good, I was as always recovering the gap at the end I was feeling great on the bike.
"I am really curious to see if it was this track and this kind of tyre or the change we did on the bike."
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 Viber
Previous article Dovizioso regrets strategy in last-lap Marquez battle
Next article Pedrosa had pace to win despite "massive disadvantage"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
David Gruz
Honda reveals 2020 World Superbike challenger
World Superbike
World Superbike
Honda reveals 2020 World Superbike challenger
Redding: Bautista cost himself 2019 WSBK crown
World Superbike
World Superbike
Redding: Bautista cost himself 2019 WSBK crown
Espargaro: Aprilia showed podium pace at Sepang
MotoGP
MotoGP
Sepang February testing
Espargaro: Aprilia showed podium pace at Sepang
More from
Maverick Viñales
Maverick Vinales to undergo extensive medical checks: “If I have something broken, I'll stop”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
6 h
Maverick Vinales to undergo extensive medical checks: “If I have something broken, I'll stop”
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
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”
More from
Yamaha Factory Racing
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
Alex Marquez undergoes surgery on his right shoulder and begins recovery at home
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
Alex Marquez undergoes surgery on his right shoulder and begins recovery at home
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
Latest news
IndyCar 2026 season review: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 54 min
IndyCar 2026 season review: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Kyle Larson admits he didn't think Cup title was possible in NASCAR champion's speech
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
Kyle Larson admits he didn't think Cup title was possible in NASCAR champion's speech
Wright Motorsports names full-time 2027 IMSA GTD lineup as Sargent joins Adelson
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 1 h
Wright Motorsports names full-time 2027 IMSA GTD lineup as Sargent joins Adelson
John Klausmeier joins 23XI Racing as technical director
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
John Klausmeier joins 23XI Racing as technical director
Feature
Discover prime content
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:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe