Vinales: I wish the race was 9am!

Defending Le Mans winner Maverick Vinales felt helpless to prevent himself slipping from first to eighth on the Saturday MotoGP timesheets.

Air and track temperatures were 13 and 22 degrees respectively when the Movistar Yamaha topped the morning FP3 session.

But when temperatures rose to over 20 and 40 degrees for final practice and qualifying, the asphalt became more slippery and the long-running traction problems returned.

"I wish the race was at 9am!" said Vinales.

"If my bike was like the morning I was able to fight for the pole. But like it was in the afternoon it was impossible. I know the level I have, I know the rider I am. I know when the bike is working I am there, the top three."

He added: "In the morning I felt really good. It was like a [shot in the arm]. 'Okay, I feel fast again'.

"I could keep '32.0 on old tyres, then I put new tyres and very easily went into the mid '31. So I was pretty happy and confident I could do a low '31 in qualifying.

"But then in qualifying it was quite hot, the tarmac was a little bit slippery and it was the same problem as always. I can do nothing.

"This morning with 36 laps on the tyre I was '32.3 all the time. But in the afternoon it was so difficult to do mid '32. So it's difficult.

"I have to take FP4 as a reference for the race and the rhythm is not incredible. It's good, but not enough to fight for the win, for sure."

Asked to confirm it's the same traction problems the factory Yamaha team have been battling for just over a year, the Spaniard replied:

"Yeah, exactly the same problem as before. Exactly as last year, so let's see if tomorrow we can make something special.

"When I can ride the bike [well] I push my best and when I cannot ride the bike, I push also my best."

Team-mate Valentino Rossi mirrored Vinales' decline, dropping from third in FP3 to ninth on the grid.

Vinales, currently third in the world championship, has not won since last year's Le Mans race.