Valentino Rossi doesn’t expect Yamaha’s new testing parts to provide instant performance jumps for the rest of the season or going into 2020 but feels the Japanese manufacturer is heading “in a good way”.
Maverick Vinales says his goal for the remainder of the 2019 MotoGP world championship is to remain the top Yamaha rider in the standings as he continues to push himself both on and off track.
It’s the return of the MotoGP gossip with the latest round-up following the two-day Misano test, plus reaction from the British MotoGP and the first test at the KymiRing.
Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli says that all of the new M1 parts tested at Misano this week were 'approved' by Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales and 'will most likely be used at the next race'.
Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales had new parts for both this season and next during day one of the Misano MotoGP test. With just two race wins since Assen 2017, Yamaha has often been criticised for not offering enough significant new parts for the race team to try.
Maverick Vinales took his first MotoGP podium since the summer break, and reclaimed fifth in the world championship from Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi, with a lonely ride to third place at Silverstone.
Valentino Rossi has been left bemused by the lack of rear tyre grip he felt during the British MotoGP race compared to his practice pace as he missed out on the podium to Monster Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales.
Maverick Vinales is hoping the new Silverstone asphalt will provide a further boost to his chances at a track where he is already a proven MotoGP winner. Vinales took his first premier-class victory, and first for the Suzuki GSX-RR, at Silverstone in 2016.
Maverick Vinales says he prioritised his race preparation during Friday practice over the outright quick lap times on a productive day for the Monster Yamaha rider at the Czech Republic MotoGP.
Valentino Rossi takes confidence from the performances of Movistar Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales and Petronas Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo but concedes he still needs “to find another way to find a good feeling” with his M1.
Maverick Vinales still feels he has nothing to lose in the current MotoGP campaign and will use the same approach which provided breakthrough results before the summer break for the Movistar Yamaha rider.
Marc Marquez feels he has breathing space in the MotoGP world championship fight after pulling out a 58-point advantage over nearest rival Andrea Dovizioso, while he sees Yamaha duo Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo as “the guys to beat at the moment”.
Maverick Vinales feels his Monster Yamaha squad can be satisfied with second place at the German MotoGP after conceding it was “impossible” to overtake Marc Marquez before he stormed clear at the front.
Maverick Vinales feels his improved consistency has come from “a little bit of everything” adapting with his Monster Yamaha squad but accepts he must produce a strong performance at the German MotoGP to finish the job.
Maverick Vinales took to the Sachsenring track with "completely the same" bike set-up as he had used to claim Yamaha's debut MotoGP victory of the season last Sunday at Assen.
MotoGP riders have been reminded to be aware of not blocking other riders at Sachsenring after an incident at the end of FP2, with stronger penalties due to be introduced for the closing stages of Saturday's FP3.
Maverick Vinales has dismissed Marc Marquez’s concerns he may struggle at the German MotoGP and placed the favourite tag firmly on the reigning world champion who has a perfect record in the premier class to defend at Sachsenring.
Maverick Vinales wants to show his Assen victory wasn’t a one-off in Germany as he still feels “like I’m still dreaming” following his first MotoGP win of the season.
Marc Marquez might be leaving Assen with the runner-up trophy tucked under his arm, but it is very much mission accomplished by the reigning MotoGP world champion as he makes the 2019 crown look a definite fit.