Maverick Vinales - 'On the top speed we are at the back'

Maverick Vinales completed the first day of the second MotoGP test in Qatar with a third place finish behind lap record breakers Jack Miller and Fabio Quartararo. 

It was also the first experience of riding with the new M1 chassis, as the Monster Energy Yamaha rider chose not to try it at the opening test. 

The first test was largely about trying the electronics and making small gains in that area, while also getting the best from his riding style after three months off. 

Speaking on the new chassis and his third day on track, Vinales said: "I think overall today has been a really positive one. I had a small crash in T1. I think it was because of a cold medium tyre, a little bit the same as last week’s test.

"But overall, I think we can be very happy. We are trying to improve our race start, which right now is our clear objective to improve. I tried the new chassis as well, but I need more laps to understand.

"Also, I need more laps to be comfortable on the bike. I feel quite happy because we are doing a good job. The rhythm is there and at the end of the day, I tried one fast lap and three fast laps came, which is good.

"We will see tomorrow. We’re maybe going to try the long run and we’ll see where we’re at. Tomorrow we will try a few more things but not too many things – just the little things. We are also very focussed on testing the electronics."

A big question that remains to be answered heading into the new campaign, is Yamaha's struggles in the race when not out front. 

Aside from Franco Morbidell last year on the 2019 chassis, this seemed to be a weak point of the 2020 bike, especially for Vinales who often lost places on the opening laps. 

So it was no surprise to hear that Vinales has been concentrating on improving his starts. 

"We need to improve the starts. We used the first two hours of the day to make starts," said Vinales. 

"Tomorrow we will try a different set up to see if we can improve. We need one lap from zero to 100, and we need to complete that before the test ends, so we have a big job to do.

"It’s very important for us to get better in this area, as it’s the key to making good races. We need to start first or second, max. "

Perhaps the biggest revelation so far, is to hear that Vinales has not gone for a full time attack given the staggering lap times on show. Vinales mentioned that he only used 'one new tyre' instead of the two he normally would. 

"Well, normally you put two tyres and you prepare yourself. But I just put one new tyre and I push, maybe not at maximum, but close to maximum," added the 26 year-old.

"The bike responds really well. I felt good and this is important. We feel we can be faster, but anyway the lap time that Fabio and Jack did is unbelievable. We are three in 53 low and the soft tyre (for the test) is the medium tyre from last year. This is really fast."