Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Maverick Viñales pulled a podium out of the hat on Sunday in Japan, after the Spaniard had a tough qualifying session with grip issues through practice, and was off the front row. With a difficult start to the race, too, Viñales regrouped and looked after his tyres to then mount a challenge nearer the end – escaping from the drama ahead on track to take P3 over the line.
Maverick Viñales (P3): I didn’t start so well so when I saw I was seventh I tried to save the tyre and get a strategy. I caught Aleix and I lost a lot of time – I tried to overtake too fast and made mistakes, and then we started to battle. Yesterday was a difficult qualifying and we had some problems, so today is really good. This is not our limit and we go to Australia really motivated. These three races are going to be important for us, and I think the team deserve it and I’m so grateful to Suzuki that it’s nice to give them a podium at home in Japan.”