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MotoGP, Viñales: "I am fast, but not as fast as Marquez"

The Spaniard is concerned for the race: "In mixed conditions I'll struggle to maintain the pace of the other riders"

MotoGP: Viñales: "I am fast, but not as fast as Marquez"

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A ray of sun over the horizon after the pitch black cloudy skies of Motegi. The Saturday at Phillip Island lets us see Maverick Viñales once again with the best. It may be true that the Spaniard will not start from pole position, but his second place qualifying time confirms the Yamaha rider’s improvement after the difficulties in the Land of the Rising Sun.

“Finally a nice result – the M1 rider commented – I am happy to be back on the front row and I must say that it was not as simple as it may seem. Unfortunately, I did not have the same sensations as the test in February, but I am able to be competitive anyway.”

So Viñales cannot consider himself 100% satisfied.

“I still don’t have the speed of Marquez – he admitted – Plus I am aware that in mixed conditions I struggle to maintain the pace of the other riders and that could be a problem again.”

At least for the tyre choice, the Spaniard’s facial expression seems to betray a certain confidence.

I had good sensations with both the medium and the soft – he revealed – The fact is that no one knows what the situation will be like tomorrow in the race. After 4 PM there should be a drop in temperature.”

Viñales was also asked about the possibility of changing the 2018 race time.

I see it the same way as my counterparts. Moving the time up would be the right choice.”

His last comment has to do with the even playing field and competitiveness that has come out in the top class in recent races.

We have seen that there are a lot of teams within one second of one another and it is interesting to see the satellite teams competitive too – he concluded – This confirms the progress with the tyres, the electronics and at the same time, the rider himself.”

Translated by Jonathan Blosser
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