Maverick Vinales issues KTM bike-spec ultimatum ahead of Brazil MotoGP

Maverick Vinales plans to use the Brazilian MotoGP weekend to decide if he should switch to the RC16 configuration used by the other KTM riders.

Vinales was left outside the points at the Thai season opener, finishing just 19th in the Sprint (+21.445s) and 16th in the grand prix (+36.545s) after a chronic lack of front grip.

The Tech3 rider had been confident in his choice of parts after the opening Sepang test, but the other KTMs chose a different direction.

That includes factory star Pedro Acosta, who leads the world championship heading into this weekend’s Goiania round after 1-2 finishes at Buriram.

“In the end, we do not work to be the last, we work to be at the front. It’s clear there was one KTM at the front [at Buriram] and it was not us,” Vinales said on Thursday.

“In Sepang, we chose one way [bike spec], which I think was quite correct to be honest, but in Thailand, it didn’t work.

“So still we have one more chance with this bike to see if, in different conditions, it still works; if not, we are going to go to the bike everyone is riding.

“The important thing is to understand if the direction we went in is OK and the Thailand race was just a [one-off].”

"We need to give it one more chance"

Vinales confirmed that chassis choice is one of the main differences compared to the other RC16s.

“[My] bike is quite different in terms of chassis and other stuff. So we need to really understand,” he said.

“I suffered a lot with front grip. A lot. And we modified a lot the bike and it did not change the front grip, so it is clearly the problem we had in Thailand.

“We need to understand if it can be [a problem also at] other tracks but in Sepang the bike was working well. So we need to give it one more chance.

“Maybe Brazil is not the best place, but we need to give one more chance. In Sepang there was a big potential.”

The Spaniard believes grip levels are a key factor in whether his configuration is competitive.

“If the grip is high, then it will be OK,” he said. “In Sepang, the front grip was good and the balance OK. In Thailand, it was 90% grip on the rear and 10% on the front, so I was sliding everywhere, and I could not do nothing.

“We need to see how the balance is here, but for sure [Goiania] will be different to Thailand because the track and asphalt is different. 

"But after that, it is [still] a good way to have a conclusion for what we choose.”

Goiania - like Buriram - will also see the stiffer casing used for all three rear tyre options, unlike the normal tyre casing used at Sepang.

Vinales’ situation is in stark contrast to a year ago, when the other KTMs moved towards his choice of parts and set-up.