What 'Big Difference' in Last Ten Laps of Argentina Race?
What 'Big Difference' in Last Ten Laps of Argentina Race?
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BUENOS AIRES - This Qatar GP winner believes the last ten laps of Sunday's Argentina round will see a 'big difference' in pace emerge between the riders.
The new Movistar Yamaha rider explained that wheel spin is a big problem at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, and those that control it best will have a major advantage at the end of the race.
"Rear grip here is very important to have a not for one lap, but for all the race. I think there will be a big difference in the last ten laps of the race, between riders who worked well for the race and those that didn't," said Maverick Vinales.
"The last exit I was spinning everywhere with the hard tyre. So we have still to work on that. At the end '41 low was not bad with the hard, but for sure it is not the pace we can go," he added.
The young Spaniard was speaking after leading both of Friday's free practice sessions, finishing 0.3s clear of Honda's reigning champion Marc Marquez.
"It's never easy! I was pushing on the bike," admitted the #25, whose M1 kicked-out so violently through the right-left transition for the final corner that it set off his airbag early in FP1. "But I feel great on the bike. I feel comfortable all the time. Each lap I do I feel better, but still have to improve."
And what if it the forecasts are correct and it rains tomorrow?
"I've never rode the Yamaha in the rain. I'm curious to see if last year it was me or the bike, honesty!" Vinales smiled, referring to the Suzuki struggling in the wet. "But I know I can be fast in the rain, in Moto3 I was quite fast. Even if I didn't finish, I was there. First or second. In Moto2 I also finished many wet races on the podium.
"So I think I can be fast in the rain and the dry, let's see if the bike is working good. It seems to work well."
Vinales' team-mate Valentino Rossi was 1.0s slower, which meant16th fastest on the close timesheets
The new Movistar Yamaha rider explained that wheel spin is a big problem at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, and those that control it best will have a major advantage at the end of the race.
"Rear grip here is very important to have a not for one lap, but for all the race. I think there will be a big difference in the last ten laps of the race, between riders who worked well for the race and those that didn't," said Maverick Vinales.
"The last exit I was spinning everywhere with the hard tyre. So we have still to work on that. At the end '41 low was not bad with the hard, but for sure it is not the pace we can go," he added.
The young Spaniard was speaking after leading both of Friday's free practice sessions, finishing 0.3s clear of Honda's reigning champion Marc Marquez.
"It's never easy! I was pushing on the bike," admitted the #25, whose M1 kicked-out so violently through the right-left transition for the final corner that it set off his airbag early in FP1. "But I feel great on the bike. I feel comfortable all the time. Each lap I do I feel better, but still have to improve."
And what if it the forecasts are correct and it rains tomorrow?
"I've never rode the Yamaha in the rain. I'm curious to see if last year it was me or the bike, honesty!" Vinales smiled, referring to the Suzuki struggling in the wet. "But I know I can be fast in the rain, in Moto3 I was quite fast. Even if I didn't finish, I was there. First or second. In Moto2 I also finished many wet races on the podium.
"So I think I can be fast in the rain and the dry, let's see if the bike is working good. It seems to work well."
Vinales' team-mate Valentino Rossi was 1.0s slower, which meant16th fastest on the close timesheets
(rnz)
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