Maverick Viñales is at a dead end with his KTM bike, finishing 19th in the sprint at the Sachsenring on Saturday. The Spanish rider spoke about his persistent problems, attributing the cause to a lack of confidence in the front end of his bike.
What's going wrong for Viñales?
Viñales explained that he's struggling more with the bike than physically, and that the team needs to understand and work on the issue. He particularly lacks the necessary feel for the front wheel with new tyres, stating that the bike won't turn in and he constantly feels as though the front wheel might tuck in.
Doubts in the paddock: Is Viñales fit enough?
Despite his struggles, Viñales doesn't think the problem lies with his physical condition. He believes that in corners where he just has to brake and then open the throttle again, he's on a par with the others. However, where he needs to carry cornering speed, the bike pushes him further and further outwards, and he loses an enormous amount of time.
Vinales remains defiant
Off the track, Viñales' relationship with KTM remains tense. After motorsport director Pit Beirer stated his intention to speak to Viñales to clear up recent misunderstandings, the Spaniard showed little interest in a clarifying discussion. "No. To be honest, I don't need to talk to anyone," said Viñales. "I just want to put this chapter behind me. I've realised that I'm out of MotoGP. Now I want to look ahead, come back as strong as possible after the summer break and enjoy the final races."
What comes next for Viñales?
Viñales urgently needs answers to put himself in contention for a place. The Spanish rider is focused on looking ahead to the summer break and returning strong, but his statement is likely to further fuel speculation about his future.
Viñales has also noticed that the KTM's handling deteriorates as grip on the track increases. "My feeling is that the more grip the track gets, the worse the bike performs. We're trying to understand why that is. In the sprint, I had severe chattering and could barely control the bike. Going downhill, I found it extremely difficult to keep the throttle fully open."
Viñales' aim is to get back to his old level, but he knows it won't be easy. The Spanish rider is determined to put his struggles behind him and come back strong after the summer break.