Viñales: “I feel confident with the front”

Suzuki rider third on Day 1 and feeling good as the Hamamatsu factory’s home race kicks off

Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was third on the combined timesheets on Day 1 at the Twin Ring Motegi, and the Spaniard spent the first two sessions working with different tyres ahead of Sunday’s Motul Grand Prix of Japan. With confidence in the front end brimming – and important aspect of how to attack Motegi – work now shifts to the rear tyre and finding solutions to enable Viñales and Suzuki to fight for their second win of the year – on home turf.

Maverick Viñales (P3): “I feel quite good. We worked hard with the tyres for the race today. We have a positive feeling, I was feeling good on the bike and I feel confident with the front, which is quite important here. So so far it’s a positive weekend. But we need to work more with the rear tyre to make sure it will last until the end of the race. The team deserves an incredible result and be on top, so we’ll give 100% - everyone is working hard and pushing.”