Qatar MotoGP test: Maverick Vinales - 'The behaviour of the bike is really nice'

'The behaviour of the bike is really nice, it is handling really well', - Maverick Vinales ends final day of 2021 MotoGP testing early due to windy conditions, but feels the 2021 bike is ready to fight. 
Maverick Vinales Qatar MotoGP Test, 11 March 2021
Maverick Vinales Qatar MotoGP Test, 11 March 2021
© Gold and Goose Photography

Maverick Vinales didn't complete a laꦚp on d꧑ay five of the 2021 Qatar MotoGP test as windy conditions affected proceedings. 

The conditions were extremely windy and dusty which resulted in only a handful of riders completin🌃g laps.&nb👍sp;

That leaves Vinales as the rider who ꦏtopped the last full day of running and has certainly been one of the standouts of testing so far. 

The Monster Energy Yamaha rider has consistently been at the top in both race🍷 pace and qualifying trim, so it's no surprise to hear that 2021 preparations have gone well so far. 

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Vinales said: "Yeah I think we worked quite w𒁃ell during these days and we tried many things (general things)🌌, which is important I think. But at the end of the day I think we understand quite well what we have, and where we are right now, and where we need to go. 

"The behaviour of the bike is really nice, it is handling really well which is really important and it is working really well on a ful🅷l fuel tank.

"We k𒁃now we need to still improve the start and we need to improve a few things on the bike which takes time, but we will work. Anyway I think the direction is good this year."

A recuring question that Vinales has had to deal with in recent times are his starts and competing with other rider🅰s in the opening laps. 

Ahead of the season opener, and upbeat Vinales added: "Yesterday I did my final run🌞s wit⛎h the new chassis. I felt very comfortable from the first lap which is a good sign and also the lap times are coming quite easy.

"It’s also another good sign of the cꦚhassis. But whatever the situation is we need to keep working for sure, as we will face a difficult weekend because of the race start and the main straight, but we have our strengths also that we can use.

"We will try to have a good weekend for sure and after the🐷 test my feelings are very good, we are on plan.&nඣbsp;We understand the situation and we will try to work very hard, to try to be as fast as we can, especially from the beginning of the race."

Dꦉuring the c💙ourse of 2020, all too often we heard that the 2020 bike was not turning like the 2019 bike, and that it was more difficult to ride in general. 

When asked if the 2021 bike represents the feeling of the 19 bik꧅e more than last year, VInales said: "Well basically the differences are on the engine. It’s a long time ago that I tried the 2019 bikes, but the times that I have had the chance I could turn better.

"This is the only thing I remember. Franco did a great job on that bike, and is doing a really good job now, so it iဣs positive that all the Yamaha’s are dไoing a good job. 

"To do it on the race weekend is where everything counts and the poi🙈nts are given." 

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