‘Quite curious’ about ‘medium’ tyre, but not race option - Vinales

Maverick Vinales looks to make it two wins from two in Qatar, still has ‘the feeling’ of last weekend even though fast lap doesn’t come quite as easy in the second MotoGP practice session.

Robert Jones

03 Apr 2021

Maverick Vinales, MotoGP, Doha MotoGP 2 April 2021
© Gold and Goose

Qatar MotoGP race winner Maverick Vinales squeezed into the top ten during Friday’s FP2 session ahead of an important qualifying day at the Doha Grand Prix.

The Spanish rider was once again impressive during his race runs which included a race simulation on the medium tyre.

Quite a few riders tested the medium tyre during Q2 before their qualifying runs, but while Vinales was able to hold consistent mid 1m 54s lap times, it’s not a tyre he believes will be used in the race, at least not for him.

Asked if it was a tyre you can race, Vinales said: "No, I don't think so. I think the soft has much more potential than the medium. Much more.

“But we just didn't have the best performance on that today. Also in this track I have a good feeling, good grip, not low grip, honestly."

While it is unlikely many riders if any will race the medium as the temperature during FP2 is expected to be around 15 degrees less, last weekend’s winner acknowledged that it was still important to try it.

Vinales said: "For me it was quite curious that with the medium, I could ride 1'54.4, 1'54.5 for a long run. And this was good, I'm quite happy about that because I know that when I put a soft on with the maximum performance, I can ride very fast.

"And this is good, this is really good, I'm quite happy. For sure the time attack didn't go as we expected.

"We lost quite a lot of tenths, especially on the gas, but I think we know the problem and this is the most important.

"We are calm, and we know our potential. We will try to make it tomorrow."

Although Vinales only just squeezed into what should be automatic passage into Q2, the championship leader is feeling increasingly confident due to his ‘feeling with the front tyre’ being a big reason why.

"Basically I felt an amazing feeling with the front tyre, and I still have that feeling. So I can turn the bike quite well, it turns easily, which is always nice," added the 26 year-old.

"Then when I put my race pace I can ride quite fast, quite consistent, especially lap by lap. And this is something quite important, because you need to feel it during the weekend.

"I said in FP4 I felt fantastic, and I think today I felt fantastic again. So I think we have a good opportunity, a good potential to fight for the race.

"For sure anything can happen, maybe tomorrow something strange happens and nothing works, but I think in the garage we are working well and the bike is in a good place."