Maverick Vinales says he wasn’t able to execute his “plan” to win the Andalucian MotoGP race at Jerez after “struggling to breathe” behind Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi.
Vinales was keen to go one better than his runners-up result in last weekend’s Spanish GP at the same Jerez venue, with his plan being to get in front of pole-man Fabio Quartararo early on and “escape.”
The Spaniard showed great pace on the opening lap and looked set to challenge the race-leading Petronas SRT M1, sending a move down the inside at the final Lorenzo hairpin.
He was ultimately unable to stop his machine quickly enough and ran wide, allowing not only Quartararo back through but also team-mate Rossi.
He then spent most of the remainder of the 25 lap encounter stuck behind the seven-time premier class champ, the Italians demon braking technique preventing Vinales from making any move stick.
While finally passing Rossi on the penultimate tour and taking the chequered flag second once again, Vinales explained following the race that he found it tough to pass during the contest as he struggled to breathe in the hot air produced by his fellow Yamaha.
“I had a really good feeling with the bike and on the first lap I pushed a lot to try and get Fabio (Quartararo), but then I made a big mistake at Turn 13 where I ran wide and Valentino (Rossi) and Fabio got back past me,” explained Vinales following the Andalucian GP.
“After that my race was totally different, I had planned my race to be in front and escape because I had a really good rhythm when I was on my own, but behind Vale was really difficult as I got really hot behind him.
“I’m not sure if it was because of the engine or the lack of fresh air, but I got really hot and struggled to breathe and it got really difficult.”
Vinales added that he was satisfied to leave Jerez with two runners-up finishes in as many races, having scored solid points for a possible title bid heading to a Brno circuit he “likes.”
“Anyway there are no excuses, we were really good this weekend and we’ll take 40 points to Brno which is really good and I like Brno, it’s a good track for me and overall I feel really happy.”
