‘Fast for 20 laps, not one’ - Vinales’ ‘18 aim

Maverick Viñales has set out his aims for the coming days at Sepang, with the Catalan stressing the importance of working toward being fast runs over 20 laps, rather than just one, as he seeks to field a stronger challenge for the MotoGP title.

Having announced a two-year contract extension with Movistar Yamaha that will see him race in dark blue until 2020, Viñales went on to pinpoint areas of the M1 most in need of work as the first test of the year fast approaches.

Understanding, sampling and modifying the machine’s electronics will be key, he said, as will sustained work on the bike’s wet weather set-up – so often the ’17 M1’s Achilles Heel toward the end of last year.

“For sure I learnt a lot from 2017 and also all the staff,” said Viñales, now 23 years old. “We’re going to try and improve. As I said, in the test we’re going to try to not just be so fast in one lap but more constant in 20 laps.

“We’re going to try and learn in the rain, the electronics, and improve. Let’s see if we can improve on our weakest point. As I said, I think it’s really important that we start with one type of tyre and we continue all of the season with this type of tyre. Let’s see if it can be possible this year.

“And let’s see if we can do another step on the chassis and the engine. Where I feel we have to improve is on the electronics and I think Yamaha have done a good job over the winter.

“I know Yamaha was working very hard this winter. For sure they know better than me. For me, it’s going to be really important to work on the electronics. Malaysia is the perfect place because for sure it’s going to rain and there will be mixed conditions. That’s the perfect place to try.

“Let’s see if we can do a great step in the electronics and we will see about the chassis and engine. For me, the main target is trying to be very constant for 20 laps, even if I know we have the speed to make one lap to qualify. I want to be sure we can be fast for 20 laps.”

As well as starting with more than a year of experience aboard Yamaha’s M1, Viñales believes he will feel the benefits of having spent sufficient time with his technical team, headed by crew-chief and fellow Catalan Ramon Forcada.

Viñales admitted he is prone to occasional outbursts of frustration, as witnessed during qualifying for last year’s season finale at Valencia. After a considerable time working together, the team will know how to help him more effectively during difficult moments, he feels.

What’s more, the technicians learnt a sufficient amount from analysing his data in 2017 to ensure the new M1 is more suited to his style.

“Let’s say that now the team understand my character, understand myself, when I’m angry and when I’m not angry,” he said. “For sure that’s a positive point because the team can help me in the moments that I’m not so concentrated or let’s say, when I’m not giving 100 percent.

“I think that now we know a little bit more the team, it’s going to be easy to solve if we are in a bad way. After the first year we learnt a lot. That was the positive point. They know my riding style. For sure, they’re going to try and do a bike that can solve any problems during all the year that we didn’t solve in 2017.”