---
title: "Vinales ‘extra motivated’ for Spanish Grand Prix"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/05/04/vinales-extra-motivated-spanish-grand-prix/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2017-05-04T15:20:49Z"
modified: "2017-05-04T15:21:30Z"
---

# Vinales ‘extra motivated’ for Spanish Grand Prix

Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales says he is ‘extra motivated’ ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, his first race on home soil since joining the Japanese marque.

The Spaniard comes into the fourth round of the championship keen to make up for his error in Austin. On the second lap of the grand prix, whilst trying to recover lost ground after losing places at the start, Vinales pushed too hard into Turn 18 and crashed.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/05/665904924.jpg)

This DNF saw him lose the championship lead for the first time this season, with Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi taking over at the top by six points on 56.

Despite the non-score, Vinales has still taken away positives from America, chiefly that his pace throughout the weekend proved he can be competitive at all circuits on the calendar on his YZR-M1.

“After the disappointing result in Austin, I’m happy that I didn’t sustain any injuries,” he said.

“We also proved that we have the potential to fight for the victory at every race and this motivates me to arrive to Jerez even stronger than I was at the last GP.”

Jerez has proven a prosperous circuit for Yamaha over the years, the Japanese manufacturer winning a total of seven times, including for the past two seasons, at the 4.4km Spanish circuit.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/05/665861658.jpg)

For Vinales, Jerez has been less kind. He won the Spanish Grand Prix on his way to the 2013 Moto3 crown, but has failed to make the podium since, with his best result a fifth in the 2014 Moto2 race. Last year, he was a distant sixth on the Suzuki.

Although mostly lacking in success at Jerez, Vinales is buoyed by Yamaha’s tendency to be competitive there and is confident this trend will continue this weekend.

“Jerez is a good track for Yamaha, they’ve always been very fast there, so I know that I can be as strong and fast in Jerez as I was in Austin and as I have been at all tracks during the start of this season.

“We just should be focused, find a good set-up for the bike and push until the end of the race. I’m extra motivated for the next round.”