Movistar Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales insists his choice of the soft rear Michelin in yesterday’s Silverstone MotoGP was not a gamble but he did have to go steady in the first half of the race to implement his strategy.

Vinales watched as team-mate Valentino Rossi tried a great escape at the former WWII airfield but had to bide his time to keep grip in the tyre. However, Marc Marquez threw a spanner in the works when his RC213V exploded right in fromt of the Spaniard.

“I think it was not a gamble. We were working really hard with the soft, doing all that we can trying to make the tyre life longer. Honestly, I felt really great on the bike. In the first laps I was just trying to save tyres until the end,” said Vinales, speaking at Silverstone.

“It was quite hard when Dovi and Marc overtook me because I know my strongest point was at the end, the last ten laps, so that’s what I did. I just trying to save the tyre and I push at  100 per cent in the last laps.

“It was quite scary when Marc broke the engine because I didn’t know if it was oil or water, so I lose a lot compared Valentino and Dovizioso. They go away a little bit. We were able to catch them and trying to fight for the victory. So, I’m really happy that in the last lap I feel strong again as always. The bike was working well, so happy for that.”