Vinales takes “maximum” second with Marquez “impossible” to catch

Maverick Vinales feels his Monster Yamaha squad can be satisfied with second place at the German MotoGP after conceding it was “impossible” to overtake Marc Marquez before he stormed clear at the front.

Fresh from his Assen victory last weekend, Vinales has continued his resurgence with second place at Sachsenring to lead the charge against Marquez who dominated to a 10th consecutive pole position and victory at the German track.

Vinales felt taking the fight for victory to Marquez at his favoured track was always a tall order but did try to attack the Repsol Honda rider over the opening laps before he pulled ahead.

“At the beginning I tried to push to overtake him but the only place was the downhill but on the brakes for me it was impossible,” Vinales said. “I tried and tried to make the race a little bit slower but for me it was impossible. I knew from the first lap that the tyre was very difficult to survive with and arrive at the end.

“But seeing the lap times it was our choice. We will enjoy this moment because it is always difficult.”

After enduring a tough start to the 2019 MotoGP campaign at the opening three flyaway races, Vinales has shown signs of a revival starting with a podium at Jerez before adding consistency to his pace which resulted in victory at Assen and second place this weeked.

Having felt another strong result was cruelly denied at the Catalan round when he was taken out by Jorge Lorenzo, the factory Yamaha rider hopes to carry his momentum over the summer break and continue to climb up the championship standings.

“It was a difficult first part of the season but we’ve worked really well for these two races,” he said. “It was a shame at Montmelo because I think it was one of the races where our bike was at its best with settings and had a lot of grip.

“We need to keep working like this and Brno for us will be important. We have a good test and will try new things and I will try to keep this momentum until the last part of the season.”

Vinales is now fifth in the MotoGP riders’ championship, and leading Yamaha contender, but is still a whopping 100 points behind leader Marquez.

Vinales and teammate Valentino Rossi will try out the 2020 prototype Yamaha at the post-Brno test, with the Czech Republic round signalling the end of the summer break at the start of August.