Maverick Viñales explained yesterday that he wants to see his Aprilia RS-GP more improved especially at the beginning of races where the start, although competitive, is only enough to maintain the starting grid position and not strong enough to gain places, he assured.
After mentioning that he would ask Aprilia to work a little more on improving the starts of races, the Spanish rider, who won two weeks ago in Austin, said: ‘I couldn’t ride the bike well enough to be in the second row, and in the race with the tire warming up, some mistakes, even though I had the pace to be on the podium but we need to learn from this weekend. We need to be more prepared at the start because our opponents are very strong. We started well but they are very strong and I can’t gain a position, only maintain, and I need to gain positions […]. What I learned from this weekend is that we need to be more prepared […]’.
And he explained next that, to be more competitive in the race, he needs “extra juice” from his bike and that makes the difference in the final position, which can determine a fight for podium positions: ‘In the same race, if I started from fifth or fourth, I would be on the podium, and we need to push to start better. We started well but it’s not enough, or rather it’s enough to keep me in the same position, if I start at the front row for example I can maintain but when I have to attack from behind it’s completely different: you’re with the group and other manufacturers are very strong at the start’.
Viñales finished ninth yesterday in Jerez, behind the best Aprilia on track, Miguel Oliveira.
