Vinales laments ‘impossible’ Austrian race

Maverick Vinales has left the Austrian MotoGP short of answers following the ongoing frustrations he’s enduring with his Movistar Yamaha as be struggled to a lowly 12th place at the Red Bull Ring.

While Yamaha made a public apology on Saturday night to both him and team-mate Valentino Rossi following its poor qualifying performance, the Spanish rider had an all too familiar race in Austria triggered by a difficult start with a full fuel load.

Vinales laments ‘impossible’ Austrian race

Maverick Vinales has left the Austrian MotoGP short of answers following the ongoing frustrations he’s enduring with his Movistar Yamaha as be struggled to a lowly 12th place at the Red Bull Ring.

While Yamaha made a public apology on Saturday night to both him and team-mate Valentino Rossi following its poor qualifying performance, the Spanish rider had an all too familiar race in Austria triggered by a difficult start with a full fuel load.

After dropping the fuel load as the race progressed, Vinales began to set fastest sector times to climb back up to 12th place but his charge was ultimately curtailed with those in front of him too far ahead.

Vinales says he’s tried a number of tweaks to his riding style to solve his poor pace at the start of races but accepted it has become ‘impossible’ to find any quick fixes.

“We have a problem there, but I don’t know how to solve it,” Vinales said about his race starts. “I try with the riding style, but it's impossible. So I'll try harder next time.

“It is impossible to enjoy. I mean I don’t enjoy seeing myself twelfth,” he added when asked about the current situation.

The factory Yamaha squad is taking part in the private Misano test during the build-up to the British MotoGP at Silverstone where Vinales remains hopeful of a breakthrough despite delays in updates to his YZR-M1 from the Japanese manufacturer.

Vinales is also optimistic heading to a circuit he’s favoured since moving up to MotoGP having taken his maiden victory with Suzuki in 2016 before a second place at the British circuit 12 months ago.

“Honestly I just want to go to the next track, a track I really like, Silverstone, and just ride,” he said. “I go to enjoy on the bike. No expectations. Just trying to enjoy and ride better the Yamaha.

“More than anything, to try to find the good set-up on the bike again which is going to be the most important. Because there are many races this year and we have to do good results.”

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