Viñales leads day one at Misano

From the opening session of the San Marino GP, Maverick Viñales created a surprise by signing the best lap with a time of 1'32.666, however more than 1.5s from the track record. 

The Spaniard became the third Aprilia representative to conduct a free practice session this year along with Aleix Espargaro and Lorenzo Savadori. “The feeling was good, but like in Alcañiz, we didn't think about our position or our performance,” he admitted. We have to focus on our feeling and that is the learning process we are going through. We also have to get to know ourselves, with the team… We continue to understand many things. It's good to be in the lead, because it keeps you calm, that's for sure. But no matter what happens now, we must take solid steps forward. And that's what we do. »

Only his second Grand Prix with Aprilia and already topping the timesheets! 👏

Maverick Viñales is your Friday pacesetter at Misano! 🔝#SanMarinoGP 🇸🇲 pic.twitter.com/KTSo9CG6Uz

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 17, 2021

Today, the rain came among the protagonists and somewhat upset the hierarchy. “We were able to ride in the wet,” said the Spaniard. I only did one lap during the test because there was too much water. But I feel we have good potential and I have good feedback from the bike in the wet and that means a lot. »

A few days before competing in the Aragon GP, ​​Viñales made his first laps on the RS-GP during a private run on the same Misano circuit. “I already know the track with this bike,” he said. I know how the machine behaves and I can anticipate certain movements. I can also correct some things on the bike. This year it will be a question of feeling, confidence and understanding of the bike and the circuit. For example in Alcañiz, my first lap, I looked like a rookie who was discovering MotoGP. It's very different, I need to take different trajectories. In Misano, it's obviously easier, because I've already completed a few laps. And there is still plenty of room for improvement. I felt good today and I wasn't at my limit. I continue to learn… but it’s the same speech I had in Alcañiz. »

On Sunday, Viñales will attempt to become the second driver in history to win two races for two different manufacturers in the same season in the premier class with Mike Hailwood in 1961 (Norton/MV Agusta).