Rossi and Viñales blast Yamaha
Rossi and Viñales blast Yamaha for lack of development after severe grip problem in Jerez
Valentino Rossi and teammate Maverick Viñales went on the warpath after Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, complaining that the issues they faced a year ago had returned to haunt them. The Yamaha factory team tried for most of last year to solve issues with grip in the later stages of a hot race. Finishing the race fifth and seventh respectively, after four riders in front of them crashed out.
Viñales said: “If we’re happy to be seventh then we’re lost. We’re here to win not to finish that far back. I wasn’t able to go fast. I struggled so much to be even in the top ten, and when we’re this pleased for this result then we can’t be happy.
“It looks like we wasted time last year, because the main problem is the electronics. We have issues there that gave us very negative feelings all weekend. I was positive leaving Austin, but Jerez has shown us the reality of the bike. It’s far from the top, and we had to ride at 110% just to be seventh.”
And with time now of the essence as the championship gears up for the long European summer of races, Rossi has issued a stark warning to Yamaha: fix the bike or it’ll be too late to take victory from Marc Marquez this season or even next.
He said: “It depends on the track because we suffer more at some and less at others, but for me it’s clear what we need to do on the bike to fix it. We need time, but Yamaha have to try to shorten that time. If they can’t do that, then we’ll need another season.
“It’s a little bit about mechanical parts, but it’s mainly electronic. We have some more parts coming, but that’s like working on the tip of the iceberg when there’s a lot more below the surface. Yamaha have to give 100% to fix the problem. “We know we need to work on the black box. If we don’t, then races, months, and then years and championships go by and nothing improves.”
He also admitted that he’s struggled to convince Yamaha to rely on his experience instead of feedback from Viñales in only his second season on the bike. The situation was made even more embarrassing by another strong result for satellite rider Johann Zarco, who maintained a faster pace and remained more consistent throughout the race.