MotoGP: Vinales back on the podium despite late-race arm pump

Maverick Vinales returned to the podium for the second time in 2018 at the Dutch TT, with the Spaniard getting his first European podium since Silverstone in 2017. Vinales was a leader in the frenetic race at Assen, which saw nine bikes in the leading group in the early stages.

Vinales made good progress having dropped his customary positions at the start, making headway through the field and challenging at the front. However, the race was constantly chopping and changing, so no one really had a good enough pace to breakaway in the early stages.

“For sure I’m very happy. We’ve been studying how to improve the first laps, we worked hard, and it was good to feel strong, especially in the middle of the race. After that the tyre dropped a lot, but I think we can solve this pretty easily for the next races. The TT Assen track helps a little, because I’m fast here, but for the other tracks we need to continue to work hard.

“My plan today was to get to first place and push, that’s why I didn’t want to let Marc pass me in turn 9. Then I went very close to the gravel, because I braked so late. Anyway, it’s nice to be back and nice to be strong. We weren’t in the best position to win, because we started a little bit towards the back, but in the next races we need to think back to this weekend, because this strategy works.

“On lap 6 I rode a 1’34.1s. I thought I could ride faster towards the end, but I got a little bit of arm pump and couldn’t control the speed and it was crazy. Last year in Germany was a good race, I was quite strong, and we need to keep working like this. We know the way to go fast in Sachsenring, so it’s time to work and get the job done.”

Vinales was 4th at the Sachsenring last year and his return to the podium at Assen means that he has finished 18 races consecutively in the points, the longest current run by anyone in the premier class.-