Comments from the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Riders after FP1 at the Portuguese GP

2020-11-20 10:30
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi got reacquainted with the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve this morning, trying their YZR-M1s at this ’roller-coaster‘ track for the first time. They finished the Grande Prémio de Portugal opening session in 2nd and 19th place respectively.



Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi got their first laps in aboard their YZR-M1s at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve this morning, kicking off the Grande Prémio de Portugal. The final race of the MotoGP season is an extra exciting event this year as all riders have no prior premier-class experience at this track. Viñales and Rossi showed their motivation by completing 31 and 26 laps respectively in the extended FP1 session and took 2nd and 19th place in the timesheets.

Viñales became a fan of the Portimão track during the test held there on 7th October 2020 and used today‘s seventy-minute FP1 session to get to know the circuit‘s lay-out and characteristics better. Ever since the test, he had been looking forward to riding his YZR-M1 out of the last corner onto the longest straight, and the experience didn‘t disappoint. Setting multiple fastest laps throughout the session, Top Gun ended the morning practice in second place, with a 1‘40.162s, 0.040s from first.

Rossi started his final race weekend with the Factory Yamaha MotoGP Team with a productive FP1 session. He used the extended track time to get reacquainted with the Portimão circuit. It‘s unlike any track that the MotoGP paddock has visited due to its multiple elevation changes and blind corner entries, making it a challenge to find a good set-up right away. His best time, a 1‘41.946s, put him in 19th place in the FP1 rankings, 1.824s from the top.



Pictures for editorial use only. Copyright © 2020 Yamaha Motor Racing Srl


MAVERICK VIÑALES
MAVERICK VIÑALES


Position: 2nd | Best lap time: 1'40.162 (+0.040s) | Laps: 31

I enjoyed it a lot. It‘s been a long time since I enjoyed myself like this on the bike. The bike is also working fantastic, so I don‘t have too many issues on the track. I‘m just enjoying it and I‘m riding quite well. For this afternoon, the goal is to keep learning the track, especially considering the gearbox, and then we will see. But overall the feelings are very positive, and like I said, I‘m just enjoying it so much on the bike.





VALENTINO ROSSI
VALENTINO ROSSI


Position: 19th | Best lap time: 1'41.946 (+1.824s) | Laps: 26

This is a very difficult track, especially with a MotoGP bike. It‘s very busy! I didn‘t feel very well with the balance of the bike this morning, so we have to work to improve the feeling and then we‘ll see.

Source: Yamaha Motor Racing

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