---
title: "Vinales: The maths says we can still aim for third"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/10/26/vinales-maths-says-can-still-aim-third/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2016-10-26T19:27:13Z"
modified: "2016-10-26T19:27:13Z"
---

# Vinales: The maths says we can still aim for third

Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Maverick Vinales heads to the Sepang International Circuit with third place in the world championship standings as his target, after closing the gap to third-placed Jorge Lorenzo to just 11 points in Australia.

The Spaniard put in a storming performance on his GSX-RR Suzuki last time out at Phillip Island, Vinales coming from 13th on the grid to finish third after a hard-fought battle with teammate Aleix Espargaro and Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso.

The Sepang International Circuit has yielded two wins for Vinales in the past. He won the 125cc race in 2011, taking the fourth win of his rookie Moto2 campaign just three years later. Last year, on an underpowered Suzuki,Vinales fought with Espargaro over seventh place. At the flag, it was the more experienced of the two Spaniard’s who prevailed by just two tenths of a second.

The GSX-RR has come on a long way in 12 months, as Vinales notes, and their deficit in power at a circuit that demands it has vastly reduced. What is of some concern to the Spaniard is the high temperatures and the effect that will have on rear grip and traction, an area the GSX-RR has struggled in this year. However, Vinales is hoping that the new track surface will benefit the Suzuki and has his eye on battling at the sharp-end in order to move into the top three in the standings.

“The Malaysian circuit is one of those where I’ve always found myself comfortable and confident, it’s a very hard climate and is very demanding for the machines as the power is very important. Compared to last year, our performances with the engine and the seamless gearbox have improved a lot, therefore I’m expecting to be competitive,” said Vinales

“In the February test, I had positive results and the latest successes make me think that we have a good chance to be competitive here. We will have to take care of the rear tyre, because the Malaysian hot temperatures are very stressful for the tyre and this could affect the traction, which is one of the aspects we are mostly working on. However, the circuit has received some updates in the tarmac recently so I’m curious to see how the grip has changed; hopefully will be better for us. We have to keep an eye on the championship now, the maths say we can still aim for third place so I’ve set this as an objective; it won’t be easy but we will try to achieve it.”