Factory Yamaha MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales revealed he secured his best starting position in Phillip Island, since his pole position earlier in the year at the Circuit of the Americas, despite failing to pull off his perfect lap.

A qualifying session that had spots of rain in different sectors throughout saw a different approach needed in every lap. Vinales admitted that his best lap was halted by unexpected rain in sector four where he had to abort his lap.

“It was difficult, it was difficult because in sector one it was raining and in sector two it was completely dry,” said the 23-year-old.

“I had a good lap where the first two sectors were dry and then I arrived in sector four and I couldn’t do nothing.

“But I am actually happy I could be on really good lap times. We worked really hard for the race. We know our potential, so tomorrow we want to push at the maximum and see what we can do.”

Vinales’ pace in Australia seems to have flown under the radar, with the Spaniard in the top three of every session this weekend. Vinales believes he can be part of the leading group, but still has decisions over what to do with his rear tyre.

“There’s a lot of riders who can be in the front,” he said.

“But I am happy because it means I can be at the front challenging at the top, so that means our level is there and I’m actually happy how everything goes. I have a good front so that’s really important and let’s see tomorrow in the race.

“I will give my best as always, it’s important the rear tyre choice because we have two tyres that work similar but I don’t know which one will be best tomorrow.”