Vinales: We need to be realistic, still not ready to win with Aprilia in MotoGP

A race winner at the 2021 season opening Qatar MotoGP, Maverick Vinales admits a similar result with Aprilia is still far away. 

Vinales, who will take part in his first full season with the Noale-based manufacturer in 2022, took his second Qatar MotoGP win last season - which is good enough to put him level with Andrea Dovizioso for the most among current premier class riders. 

However, following his mid-season split from Yamaha and subsequent transition away from an inline-four to Aprilia's V4 machine, the Spaniard feels a repeat performance is unlikely to take place, as is a victory for the Italian manufacturer after saying Aprilia is 'still not ready'. 

"I think we have to remain calm. To win a race in MotoGP you need to put a lot of points together, and I still don't think we are ready," added the nine-time MotoGP race winner. 

"But sometimes MotoGP is crazy and you can do it, however, we need to keep working, improve some points of the bike and improve some points of my riding style. 

"Whatever the result is here in Qatar we will improve step-by-step. I’m not ready with this bike but we have a lot of potential."

While team-mate Aleix Espargaro is probably more likely at this current juncture to win should Aprilia be in a position to do so, Vinales believes several tenths are still missing in order to make fighting at the front a consistent trend. 

Vinales continued: "Still we need to wait a bit and be realistic. As I said in the previous tests; still we need a few tenths to be ready and fight for the top positions. 

"Anyway, we are improving and taking the necessary steps. This is what we need. 

"The character of the engine is completely different (to Yamaha) so it’s not easy and you need time."