MotoGP: Maverick ‘motivated even stronger’ for Jerez

Movistar Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales says he’s ‘motivated even stronger’ for his first home race in Yamaha colours at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, after a disappointing outing last time out at the American Grand Prix in Texas.

Crashing out of the race in the early stages – a crash he wasn’t able to find a reason for afterwards – the Spaniard, who has won two out of the opening three races of the year, says he’s got a point to prove as the series heads to a track that traditionally suits the Yamaha machine.

“After the disappointing result in Austin I‘m happy that I didn‘t sustain any injuries. We also proved that we have the potential to fight for the victory at every race and this motivates me to arrive to Jerez even stronger than I was at the last GP. Jerez is a good track for Yamaha, they‘ve always been very fast there, so I know that I can be as strong and fast in Jerez as I was in Austin and as I have been at all the tracks during the start of this season. We just should be focused, find a good set-up for the bike and push until the end of the race. I‘m extra motivated for the next round.”

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That’s a sentiment echoed by team boss Massimo Meregalli, who sits in the enviable position of having his two riders sitting one-two in the championship, with Valentino Rossi enjoying a six-point lead over Viñales as the series returns to the old world circuits of Europe.

“It‘s nice to be back in Europe. We’re now in Jerez, which is always a nice place to race at because every year there are many spectators that come to cheer us on. The atmosphere is very special at the first Spanish Grand Prix. We arrive here in good condition and with a confident mind-set, especially after the performance we gave at the previous rounds.

“This has been a good track for us in the past and that makes the upcoming weekend extra exciting. We secured two consecutive victories at the Jerez circuit over the last two years and with Maverick and Vale in prime fighting mode, as they have been so far this season, our expectations are high. We are really looking forward to start the weekend.”

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