Vinales feels he can do no more with 2017 Yamaha in wet after disastrous Motegi qualifying

Maverick Vinales feels there is nothing more he can do to make the 2017 Yamaha competitive in the wet after qualifying an equal MotoGP career-worst 14^th at Motegi.

The 2017 YZR-M1 has struggled for traction on a wet track, and the problem has persisted despite numerous chassis updates – including the introduction of a 2018 prototype frame, which aided Vinales to fourth at a soaked Misano.

Struggling for pace for the entire weekend in Japan, Vinales was forced to go through Q1 after missing the top 10 in third practice, and failed to progress into the second segment in 14^th spot.

Despite trying to adapt his style to contain his traction woes under Motegi‘s numerous hard acceleration zones, Vinales is making no headway and feels the championship is ‘slipping away’ from him.

“We tried everything,” Vinales, who is 28 points off of the championship lead, told Autosport.com.

“Honestly, nothing helps and it is just the same problem during all the year – the traction.

“I do my best, I cannot do anything more with the bike we have right now.

“For sure it is a shame, because we are trying to win the title. But like this it is impossible, I can’t do anything in the rain.

“Whatever I do, riding smoothly, riding aggressively, braking late, very early, the problem is the same one – the traction.

“Every time I go out on track, and I see myself in 10^th position, I see the title slipping away, especially because my rivals are in the first positions.”

Team-mate Valentino Rossi has also struggled for much of the weekend, though seemingly made a breakthrough in third practice when he went fifth quickest.

To add insult to injury, Tech3’s Johann Zarco secured pole position on the 2016 YZR-M1. When asked about this, the French rider could offer no concrete conclusion as to why his factory counterparts are suffering so much.

“I don’t know, really, because they are some places… even in the wet, like in Misano, Vinales was in front, and I think if Valentino could race in Misano he would also be in front,” said Zarco.

“It is different. Even in the wet, the track has very good grip.

“Me, I’m usually complaining about that, but now the average is maybe good for me and maybe too much for them, so they destroy the tyre and don’t have grip.

“This is the only technical thing I can think about.”