Vinales Braces for Japanese MotoGP Challenge After Strong Mandalika Performance

Maverick Vinales: Japanese MotoGP will be "a significant challenge for us"

However, Mandalika was better than expected: "When I was alone, my pace matched Martin's"

After Aprilia experienced a disastrous performance with no points in the San Marino MotoGP round, Maverick Vinales managed to stabilize the situation by securing sixth place finishes in both the Emilia Romagna and Indonesia races.

Vinales believed that his performance in Mandalika on Sunday was actually more impressive than it appeared, as he matched the race pace of the winner, Jorge Martin, from the mid-race onwards.

Once Vinales overtook KTM’s Brad Binder on the 15th lap, he fell behind Martin by just 1.453 seconds over the subsequent 12 laps.

However, beginning the race from the tenth position had already caused the harm.

“When I was by myself around laps 15-16, I was keeping the same pace as Martin,” Vinales remarked. “So it wasn’t bad. I’m not sure how hard they were pushing at the front.”

"Frankly, we had the pace this weekend, but our performance in qualifying wasn't up to par, and that's crucial. It's essential for us to be accurate and perform well in every session."

He stated that they must be prepared for their next opportunity, emphasizing that they will approach their match against Japan with the same level of determination.

Vinales, the Spanish rider, has experienced problems with consistent braking, noting that the bike's performance changes from one lap to the next.

Consequently, the stop-and-start nature of the Motegi circuit will serve as a significant challenge to gauge their advancement.

Vinales acknowledged that it would be a significant challenge for them, particularly because the track is famous for its demanding braking zones.

"Nonetheless, I believe this situation provides a chance for us to enhance our braking capabilities. I am sure we can attain a positive outcome."

Fellow team member Aleix Espargaro aims to match his Sprint podium performance in Austria. "Motegi is one of my preferred circuits; it always offers a unique grand prix experience. I'm eager to arrive and improve my performance from the last few races," Espargaro stated.

“This track involves a lot of stopping and starting, and we've improved on these kinds of circuits this year. Our podium finish in the sprint race in Austria is proof of that, so we’re optimistic about our performance here as well.”

Vinales ranks seventh while Espargaro holds the eighth position in the world championship standings.

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