MotoGP | Vinales: “I can't wait to get back to work”

MotoGP Presentation Yamaha M1 2021 – This morning, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team unveiled the new liveries of the bikes that will see Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo lined up on the starting grid.

For the Spanish driver, this will be his fifth year in the team and on his part, he has the great responsibility of establishing himself as the team's number 1.

Vinales statements on preparation for the 2021 season

“2020 has been a crazy year for all of us. We've put that behind us and now we need to focus on what's to come. With the two tests canceled in Sepang (due to Covid-19, ed.) I will have to wait longer to ride my YZR-M1. It's a long winter break so I can't wait to get back to work but in the right way. After enjoying some relaxation, we are all eager to get started. We don't have many opportunities to test, only in Qatar, so we will have to be as well prepared as possible."

Vinales statements on "senior" role in the team

“It's a strange feeling because until last year I was alongside Valentino, so I was the youngest rider. But now there's Fabio, who is four years younger than me, it really seems like I'm the "senior" now. I will have all the responsibility with the team, but I like this, knowing that I can lead the Yamaha team gives me extra motivation. So I can't wait to start the season to demonstrate our full potential."

Vinales statements on favorite for the 2021 season

“Miller can be one of the title contenders. Last year went very well, he understood Ducati's strengths. I think the four Yamahas can also be up there and fighting. We will try to reach our goal, Yamaha worked a lot during the winter."

Vinales statements on his relationship with Quartararo

“It made me improve a lot in 2019 because for us the front row on the grid is really important and Fabio was doing really good laps. I learned a lot from him, even though he was a very young rider and in his first year in MotoGP. He adapted very well to the Yamaha to do a fast lap. It will be important to be united as a team, in recent years everyone was on their own business. We can create a single team, in the past it was difficult because there were mine and Valentino's team."

Vinales statements on Crutchlow contribution

“The way we work will change. Crutchlow will help us a lot, before we received a lot of things from Japan but they often didn't work, Cal will try pushing hard, and it will be easier to concentrate on work and not be both a pilot and a test rider on the weekends."