Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Spanish rider Maverick Vinales exits Luffield Corner during the fourth free practice session of the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire, southern England, on August 26, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Oli SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Only one side of the Yamaha garage will be working for the Gran Premio Tribul Mastercard di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini this weekend, with Maverick Viñales as the team's sole representative following Valentino Rossi's injury.
A fortnight ago, Viñales ended the weekend at the Silverstone Circuit on a high, securing a hard-fought second place.
Thanks to this podium result, he is now in third place in the championship standings, 13 points from first and with a 4-point margin to second place.
This weekend the Spaniard aims to inch closer to the top spot in the rankings again, by securing a place on the San Marino rostrum. He visited it once before, when he scored a second place in the Moto3 class in 2013.
Though the improved feeling on his YZR-M1 at the British Grand Prix - and the positive private Misano test results of the week before - left the young Spaniard in high spirits, he is saddened that he will be riding without his teammate at the upcoming MotoGP round.
“Unfortunately we will arrive at the Misano Grand Prix without my teammate Valentino and it's a big shame,” he said. “I know it‘s a very special GP for him, as it's his home race, and it will not be the same if he‘s not there. I wish him a quick recovery and hope to have him back in the garage as soon as possible.”
“We are very motivated after the podium at Silverstone, we‘re working in the right direction again. I'm starting to have the same feeling on my M1 that I had at the beginning of the season and that gives me a lot of calm and allows me to focus on continuing to get points in each race. It's very positive that we were able to give a good performance in the test at the Misano track some weeks ago and we improved a lot of things on the set-up, so I will try as always to give my 100% to bring a new victory to Yamaha.”