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MotoGP Mugello: Used tyre pace gives Vinales confidence

Maverick Vinales explained how the pace he found on used tyres in free practice four helped him find the rhythm to get himself on the front row of the grid ahead of tomorrows Italian Grand Prix.

After badly struggling in FP3 and having to go through the awkward Q1 session, Vinales decided to stick used tyres on his M1 in FP4. It was then where he found surprising pace, which gave him the confidence going into the first qualifying period.

"This morning it went quite bad so I didn’t expect to be in the first row because in the morning I couldn't improve the lap time from yesterday," said the 23-year-old.

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"Finally, we worked hard in the garage and we know where we had the problems and where we struggled a lot. In FP4 we seemed to have a big step, especially with the rhythm on the used tyres, and in qualifying in Q1 it was difficult and in Q2 I used one medium and then another soft.

"Maybe it was not the best combination but I felt good on the bike and the team is working better every day. It is a tough moment but we have never given up and when I have confidence I can be at the front."

With two minutes remaining in Q1, Vinales found himself second fastest behind the Pramac Ducati of Jack Miller and with Tito Rabat hot on his tail. Struggling to match the time of Miller, Vinales was unaware that he was inadvertently setting his compatriot up for a slipstream down the home straight that would’ve surely cost him his spot in Q2.

Entering the final sector of the lap Vinales received a dash message from his Movistar Yamaha team, which allowed him to get out of his lap and not help Rabat knock him out in Q1.

"Luckily yes because if he took the slipstream I would not be in third,” he said.

"Luckily the team sent me the message to give up on the lap which I think was the key to being on the front row.”

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