When Aprilia rushed to sign Maverick Viñales last summer, in the middle of the season, taking advantage of the stormy divorce of the Spanish rider with the brand with which he had been racing since 2017, one of the reasons given was the information that the rider could bring of his old motorcycle, and with it try to improve the prototype of Noale ‘s house.
Until now, however, Maverick’s performances have been limited to two Grands Prix and two tests at Misano, and one more race at Aragon, where only one test has been held this year.
The real comparison with which the Italian engineers will be able to work will come this weekend, in Portimao, where Viñales already raced last April with the M1 .
“I plan the weekend as an opportunity to compare the bikes,” he admitted this Thursday in the Portugal preview.
“It will be very interesting to give the feedback [to the engineers], especially to understand what the real difference is between the two bikes, because on the other tracks I had never ridden with my previous bike. Here, I will be able to compare, and that will be positive. “, he assured.
Although Maverick continues to struggle with the automatisms with which he rode his previous bike, he considers that his adaptation to the RS-GP is progressing well.
“I’ve done a lot of laps with the Aprilia already, so I don’t think I have the mentality to take the same lines as in the previous race here in Portimao. This bike requires taking different lines, so I’ll do it and try to see what it gives you.” asks”.
After winning the first race of the season in Qatar and finishing fifth in the second, held at the same circuit, Maverick’s problems this year with the Yamaha started at the third stop, Portimao, where he had to start 12th on the grid at canceled his best lap in Q2, getting lost in the race and crossing the finish line in 11th, almost 24 seconds behind the winner, his teammate Fabio Quartararo.
“This is not a track where I have been very fast in the past,” admitted Mack, who nonetheless arrives hopeful again at this track after achieving his best result with Aprilia in the last race, an 8th place on the heels of his partner Aleix Espargaró.
“Considering the feeling I left Misano with, I think I can give much more than in previous races. It is important to keep moving forward and stay focused on our work, which is a process of learning and trying things, to see where we can progress during the next year”.
“In general, what we are trying to see now is where the new bike should go. We are doing a good job, because with each race we are getting closer and closer, and the times are improving.”
“I think I got the fourth fastest time in the last race, that means there is progress: in Aragon I was last, in Misano I finished in the middle of qualifying and now I’m getting strong. It doesn’t make sense. We have to move slowly, and the results will come. I’m sure that if we do a good job, the results will come sooner or later”, settled the boy from the Costa Brava.
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Aprilia Racing
Photo by: Aprilia Racing
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
Photo by: Team Gresini
