Vinales 'back where we should be', but can he stay there?

After being 'back where we should be' at Buriram, Maverick Vinales is eager to find out if it was the revised rear tyres or new set-up configuration that made the difference.

Vinales finished third but just 0.270s from victory at the end of a competitive weekend in Thailand, where he felt a change of weight balance helped produce his and Yamaha's best race of the season.

But with team-mate Valentino Rossi finishing in his wheeltracks and Tech3's Johann Zarco also enjoying his best race since Jerez with fifth, it's unclear how much influence the set-up change made to Vinales' form.

The answer should become clearer at Motegi this weekend.

"After the GP in Buriram my thoughts were that a race and a weekend like the last one should be normal for us, we were back where we should be," said Vinales. "We had made a positive change to the bike and I felt very good, and the team has worked well.

"I think we're finally getting the results after much hard work.

"The small changes in the bike are finally paying off. In Thailand my strong points were corner speed and I was also very fast at the turn-in. Then again, the tyres that were brought to Buriram were different from the usual ones, that could have helped me too.

"On the other hand, we made a change in the weight distribution, which also played a part. I'm very curious to get to Motegi and find out if it was the tyres or the new configuration that made the difference."

The Spaniard, was ninth in last year's wet race, added: "Motegi is a very special circuit for us because it's Yamaha‘s home Grand Prix. It will be very important to do a good performance in Japan in front of all our managers and our wonderful fans, who are always supporting us. I can't wait to be there."

Vinales is fourth in the world championship, 26 points from Rossi and 16 ahead of Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo.