Vinales who?

So little top gun believes going back to #12 will make him WC over Marc.

But Marquez said he found Vinales' decision strange and that giving up his #93 has never crossed his mind.

Asked why a rider might choose to change numbers, Marquez replied: "I don't know. Always since I first used the 93 I've always worn that one.

"It may be a superstition, maybe psychologically it helps. But it does not occur to me to change my number.

"There are riders who are more obsessive than others, these things can affect certain people. But I don't have many superstitions."

It was then put to Marquez that one of the reasons Vinales gave for his switch was because he had used #12 in some races early in his career in which he beat Marquez.

The five-time premier class champion responded: "I don't remember doing a whole championship together as children. We did some races, it does not matter.

"One year, when I was very small, I used #3. But now we are in MotoGP and that's what counts. We can not live in the past, we have to live in the present.

"But if he wins by changing his number, I'll change mine too!"

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https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/vinales-number-change-marquez-puzzled/4314102/

Krop is predicting Yamaha will lose control of the narrative if they follow Rossi’s path and the bike isn’t championship caliber . He says Vinales is about to explode and that Yamaha has to make a choice now on which rider they are going to follow down the developmental rabbit hole. For those who can read between the lines, it’s been obvious he is pretty much over being Rossi’s teammate. Vinales is a corner speed rider and Rossi isn’t . I can see the same problem at Honda except there is a clear #1 and they will continue to give Marc what he wants and Lorenzo can alter from there.

Neil Spalding said the same at the Valencia test. Yamaha, if they are serious about winning again, have to cater to Vinales and forget about the T-shirt salesman. He's had his time, it was a good run but he'll drag the team down with him if they let him.

The corner speed issue has been a long standing thing. Lorenzo is probably the best corner speed rider ever and his style suited the Yamaha lot more than Rossi, who has failed to deal with that. Since the switch to 800's and then back to 1000's the Yamaha has had to run a long and lower profile compared to say the Honda, which by it's nature is also the preferable layout for full lean. It's also another reason the Yamaha has traditionally been great off the line.

It's no coincidence that Vinales, a corner speed rider, inherited Lorenzo's bike and dominated his first 2 races on it. Then the team politics started. Who remembers Rossi's 'Vinales doesn't know how the Yamaha should ride" comment? He's winning on it, the problem was that YOU weren't and they ruined the bike in the process of pandering to you. I've always given Lorenzo credit for being headstrong, but I think the performance of his replacement at Yamaha has truly shown how mentally strong he had to be as Rossi's team mate.

Amen to that, it's the truth.

Can't wait to get the season started and hope both Marquez and Lorenzo recover well and will be able to start at 100%.
Although I can see the point that the two riders on each team have different styles, it seems that Honda will make a better effort to cater to each rider (at least I hope that's how it will play out) and we know that won't happen at Yamaha.

Historically Honda have given each team member equal treatment....to a point.
Prost and Senna started off 1988 on an equal basis but by the final stretch, the team was clearly favoring Senna.
That was a long time ago though and a different team. It remains to be seen how Puig and Honda will handle the two riders if things get tight.

Bern1 said:

Amen to that, it's the truth.

Can't wait to get the season started and hope both Marquez and Lorenzo recover well and will be able to start at 100%.
Although I can see the point that the two riders on each team have different styles, it seems that Honda will make a better effort to cater to each rider (at least I hope that's how it will play out) and we know that won't happen at Yamaha.

Historically Honda have given each team member equal treatment....to a point.
Prost and Senna started off 1988 on an equal basis but by the final stretch, the team was clearly favoring Senna.
That was a long time ago though and a different team. It remains to be seen how Puig and Honda will handle the two riders if things get tight.

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I can't wait either. Honda have already publicly stated they can and will (if needs be) run two different development paths for MM & JL. However, I suspect that Lorenzo's input will help the weak points of the bike and Marquez has already proved he can ride around issues, so with those improved I can see them having similar bikes in terms of development direction. Marquez commented at Jerez that he was pleased Lorenzo was in agreement with him about the areas that need improving.

You only had to look at Valencia tests to see Honda mean business. Not only did Marquez have 3 bikes to test, so did Lorenzo. Each a different spec and all already with modified fuel tanks to his liking.

I can see their partnership being like Prost and Senna at McLaren, but I think (hope) that HRC will keep things equal.

Viñales reveals how he rode the rollercoaster of the last two seasons and why he’s planning to hire a sports psychiatrist for 2019. I’m trying to find a sports psychiatrist, but it’s not easy, because I need to find a good one that understands me

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This young man should have been with Ducati prior to Gigi.




https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/motogp/how-i-ride-maverick-vi-ales

Maverick Vinales says he has requested that Yamaha’s 2019 MotoGP bike is made smaller, because he feels the existing M1 is too big for him.

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More drama from little top gun.

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/vinales-yamaha-too-big-rossi/4322437/

evo9 said:

More drama from little top gun.

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/vinales-yamaha-too-big-rossi/4322437/

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and there are still people that get pissed if you say that Yamaha kinda made their bike for VR