Front row ‘is a must, the real objective of the weekend’ for Vinales

Maverick Vinales believes the key to a successful German MotoGP is securing an all-important front row start in tomorrow’s qualifying; ‘We MUST qualify on the front row. This is the real objective of the weekend’.
Maverick Vinales German MotoGP, 18 June 2021
Maverick Vinales German MotoGP, 18 June 2021
© Gold and Goose Photography

Maverick Vinales enjoyed a good start to round eight of the 2021 MotoGP season at Sachsenring after finishing third overall in FP2. 

Vinales was tenth in FP1 but soon moved up the order during the afternoon session once the time-attacks started. 

Vinales is using a different setup to all other Yamaha riders on the rear this weekend, and while this was a problem area for the Spaniard today, Vinales is where he wants to be regarding the ‘front feeling’.

"I have a really good feeling with the front, I can brake late, I can make the corner speed, which is great," added Vinales. 

"But you always have to work at everything. Now we lost a lot of grip because maybe the balance is different, we have a different setup to the other Yamahas on the rear. 

"So we have a lot of ideas to improve the rear grip. But basically, today I could not be faster because I could not exit the corner faster. 

"These are the kind of days that give you motivation and that you finish with a lot of positiveness, because I felt good on the bike."

Each year qualifying in Germany is one of the most crucial of the year due to it’s tight and often one-line nature, making it difficult to overtake. 

So it’s no surprise that Vinales, who often struggles at the start, believes that being on the front row is a ‘must’: "We MUST qualify on the front row. This is the real objective of the weekend. Because like in Montmelo, when I got free in the front I was riding fast. 

"We closed nearly 2 seconds to the top guys, so we need to try to work for one lap. Seems much better than in Montmelo. In Montmelo, for me it was difficult to keep in front, to keep doing red helmets (sectors). 

"Here in Sachsenring, it seems much better to do red helmets. So it's a sign that we are taking the right way. As I said, we need to go step-by-step." 

"I'm confident and I think sooner or later we are going to go first, and this is the most important. 

"I think I can pass on this track, especially down the downhill. It's not the best place, but with my riding style, I can be fast there."

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