'Happy' Maverick Vinales feeling 'very strong' at Aprilia

It took Maverick Vinales just a couple of runs at this week's private Misano test to decide to race for Aprilia next weekend at Aragon.

After a year of roller-coaster emotions - including winning the Qatar season-opener, finishing last at Sachsenring, runner-up a week later at Assen then a two-part 'divorce' from Yamaha either side of the summer break - the 26-year-old labelled the Aprilia test as one of the 'happiest moments of my life'.

"Because after five years there [at Yamaha] doing ups and downs and we didn't understand many things, at the end you say 'what is going on?' But as soon as I jumped to Aprilia I know my potential, I know what I'm able to do even more," Vinales said.

A race winner for both Suzuki (1) and Yamaha (8), the Spaniard admitted he had been nervous ahead of his first encounter with a V4 engine.

179 laps later (65 on Tuesday, then 114 today) and Vinales had taken the RS-GP to a best lap of 1m 32.4s, equalling what he had managed on his way to victory for Yamaha in last year's grand prix and 0.8s under the best Aprilia race lap.

"Honestly I went [into the test] without expectation, because you never know how the bike is going to react," Vinales said. "But I have to say that I was a bit nervous because I'd never tried a different [V4] engine.

"I was used to riding bikes that have an Inline 4, but I was quite surprised that how I adapted to the engine was quite easy and this is nice. Basically, the bike has a really [good] handling engine which is very important also for a long race.

"What I need to change is the way of braking is a bit different. This is a big learning process because the way that you can brake with the Aprilia is totally different and for this I will need more laps.

"And also Aleix [Espargaro] is very hard braking and I will need to learn a little bit from him how he does that strong braking. But I think this will come with confidence. This is the important point."

The level of ease with which Vinales felt on the Aprilia meant he wanted to race the RS-GP after just 'three runs'. That debut will thus come at Aragon next weekend.

"It is the best way to prepare for next year," Vinales said. "Even if maybe I'm not ready because it's difficult on the riding style still to be at one with the bike because I was used to riding a completely different bike.

"But I think in Aragon I will understand a little bit more, also riding with Aleix, he is fast so I can learn quickly how the bike works.

"But I feel strong. I feel very strong and this is the positive point.

"Now I have the opportunity to do six races and this is much better than to do just five days of [winter] testing. I will try to prepare well, also with Aleix, the 2022 bike, which is very important for me."

When Vinales signed for Aprilia, the RS-GP still hadn't broken into the MotoGP top five. That all changed on Sunday when Espargaro celebrated an emotional third place in the British Grand Prix.

"The atmosphere is really strong and also coming from a podium is the best time to join the team and try to give them the feedback," Vinales said.

"For sure Aleix and Savadori made an amazing job because they ride very fast and the bike is working well. I was quite surprised because the adaptation to the bike has been quite fast."

Initially negotiating to leave Yamaha at the end of this season, the early Aprilia debut is only possible after the subsequent split that followed his suspension for over-revving the engine in Austria.

But was Vinales surprised that Yamaha, as part of the separation terms, didn't prevent him from racing for Aprilia until 2022?

"No, it's fair. Everyone has to have the opportunity and to leave things in the past," he replied.

"After everything that's happened, the only thing in mind was to keep riding, I will not give up!" Vinales vowed. "Until I get my objectives accomplished, I will keep going very strong.

"I will push at my maximum already from the first lap in Aragon. I know my place in Aprilia for what it is, so I need to push so much. I need to improve myself and I need to keep going."

With Vinales slotting in alongside Espargaro, rookie Lorenzo Savadori will be moved to testing and wild-card duties.