On the return to work, Maverick Viñales was the sixth fastest on the first day of MotoGP testing in Sepang. However, the Aprilia rider still has difficulties with this year’s version of the RS-GP, needing time to adapt.
The Spaniard explained to the press: ‘I have to say that the feeling is completely different from one bike to another. It is very difficult to compare because the way of riding the bike is a bit different. That’s why we need to do more laps. It is obvious that with the 2023 version, in just one lap I can be on the limit of the bike – the lap times are very fast. With the 2024 version, I need more time. So basically, my mission for this test is to try to become one with the 2024 bike and understand the limit and how much I can push with the new bike’.
Viñales also explained that aerodynamics have a significant impact and require adaptation, but he assured that he sees good potential in the new bike: ‘For me, aerodynamics make a big difference in tire behavior and also in how the bike reacts. So, I need to learn and also adapt the bike a bit to what I learn, to what is needed to be fast with this type of bike. Mainly, the main points for tomorrow are to do series of laps, configuration, and not much more. Because I think we have good potential ahead. Of course, there are some things, more aerodynamic things, that need to be tested. But I think the mission right now is to try to become one with the 2024 bike. Because today I wasn’t one, I didn’t feel good and the lap time was already very similar to that of 2023’.
Questioned if there is more to test besides aerodynamics, #12 retorted: ‘No, I don’t. Of course, we have some items, but we will focus on feeling one with the bike, feeling that I can push the bike to its limit. Because it is very different, and we still need the tuning, we need the balance… with the same tuning, the balance is completely different, so we still need time to get the right balance on the bike, for the tires and especially the rear.’
Next, Viñales said: ‘I have exactly the same tuning that I finished with in Valencia, I really liked the bike. And I think on the second lap today I did a 1m59.6s and then a 1m58.5s with many mistakes. So, the 2023 one has good potential, but as soon as I switched to the 2024 one with exactly the same tuning, the balance in the data is completely different. Therefore, we need time to copy the balance of 2023, which is the balance I like. So, we need some more time.’
