In the final stages of the MotoGP Indonesian GP, Maverick Viñales chose to slightly ease his pace to defend against the approaching Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha). However, he couldn’t mount an attack on the leader, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati).
The Aprilia rider stated in a press conference that his strategy was the most appropriate, as it allowed him to conserve his tyre and keep Quartararo behind. He believes that even without the need for defense, the result would not have been different:
– I think I did the correct choice, to slow down a little bit. Also because if you are behind someone so close the tyre temperature go up so much and you destroy the tyre. So, I needed to try to understand what was the limit and I understood really well what was my limit of lap time to don’t destroy the tyre: it was 1m31s medium. I could keep Fabio behind. Of course when I saw Fabio closer I started to brake a little bit later and to stop a little bit more the bike to make him not make corner speed and be able to put the bike on the side to brake. Like this I could also save a little bit the rear tyre. However, I think without Fabio behind maybe I would push that much in the last five laps, but then the rear would drop. So, my result would be the same.