After a difficult race at the Dutch TT for Movistar Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales, which started with an 11th place grid position after a struggle to retain pace in Q2 and ended with a DNF, the MotoGP™ Championship contender moves to try and make amends in Germany. The highly technical track, plus the additional challenge of a new surface, will give Viñales ample opportunity to close the gap and possibly regain his Championship lead, which was lost to Ducati Team's Andrea Dovizioso; who now sits just four points in front of the Spanish rider.
Viñales has stood on the German podium twice in his racing career, having secured third places in the 125cc class in 2011 and the Moto3™ class in 2013. This weekend he sets out to conquer the top step at the Sachsenring for the first time, and make up for the lost points of the previous round.
Victories for the Spaniard have already been achieved in Qatar, Argentina and France. Results that quickly put the Viñales to the top of the premier-class ranking. The prospective duel with defending champion and countryman Marc Marquez, alongside the top Italians - namely Andrea Dovizioso, and Movistar Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi - through the remaining ten rounds of MotoGP™ in 2017 has fans enthused.
Maverick Viñales: “We arrive at the Sachsenring with a positive mindset. We have to keep in mind that after the crash in Assen we are only four points behind the leader. We have to learn from our mistakes and try to not repeat them. Now I just want to look forward. I can't wait to be back on my bike, to prepare for this weekend‘s race and of course our target will be to win, not only to be on the podium. We have to be focused on recovering our position as the leader in the championship.”