VINALES FEARS KATAR GP AS SHOULDER PAIN LIMITS HIS RIDING

Maverick Viñales’ promising start to the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend gave way to a difficult finish, as pain from his shoulder injury limited his ability to ride at full strength. The Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider was eighth in Friday’s time practice, earning direct entry to Q2 for the first time this season. He then qualified last in Q2, which left him 12th on the grid. Viñales finished 15th in the sprint and 14th in Sunday’s race, despite riders ahead of him crashing, retiring or giving up.

He was nevertheless in better spirits than after Phillip Island, where he had been unable to finish the sprint. “Pain is the only limiting factor,” said the 10-time MotoGP race winner. “With the pain in my shoulder, it’s not possible to use all the strength needed to move the bike properly.” He said the reduced discomfort in Malaysia came from the circuit and the treatment he had received since Australia.

As the weekend progressed, the physical strain made riding harder. Viñales said he was glad to finish the race and collect a few points, but struggled to find a good feeling on the bike. Low grip remains a particular challenge: “I still don’t know how to ride the bike” in those conditions, he explained, adding that he had to keep correcting his lines. When his shoulder pain intensifies, he also changes the way he brakes.

Attention now turns to the Qatar Grand Prix, which is set to go ahead despite the conflict in the Persian Gulf. Yamaha has withdrawn its two MotoGP teams. Viñales hopes to recover sufficiently before travelling, but said the prospect worries him because he expects a different feeling at the circuit and no longer has the same confidence—not because of the situation in the region.

“It looks as though, for MotoGP, this is a normal weekend,” he said. “So we have to go; otherwise, we’ll certainly get a penalty.”