06.02.2023 |
WorldSBK Staff |
WorldSBK

In a move that will surprise no-one, Issac Vinales has been confirmed as full-time rider for the 2023 Pedercini and Vinales Racing WorldSBK partnership.

While the team failed to appear on the 2023 entry lists released in late December, a statement from TPR by Viñales Racing on Monday detailed its return to action for the first European race of the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship, scheduled for late April at the TT Circuit Assen – bypassing the opening flyaway action at Phillip Island and Mandalika.

Viñales, who raced for TPR Team Pedercini at Estoril in 2022 will contest all remaining rounds of the coming season aboard a Kawasaki ZX10 RR machine, while also lining up with Wójcik Racing in EWC.

“I am very happy to be able to race with TPR by Viñales Racing in 2023,” the 29-year-old Spaniard confirmed. “I am happy to be back in the World Superbike paddock and I am working hard to give 100 per cent and hope for the good results that will surely come. I want to thank Lucio, Angel and the sponsors for the trust placed in me.”

“I am happy to confirm Isaac will return to the team with us for the 2023 season,” Team Principal, Lucio Pedercini added. “We already worked together in Estoril last year, so we know each other a little. We are working hard behind the scenes and I am confident that the new look team will be able to perform well – in any case we will do our best. We will update with more information in the coming weeks regarding testing, but we will be ready for Assen!”

16.12.2022 |
WorldSBK Staff |
WorldSBK

TPR Team Pedercini has joined forces with Viñales Racing Team for a two year partnership in WorldSBK.

The new look TPR by Viñales Racing squad will compete solely in the FIM Superbike World Championship and continue the Italian team’s long-standing association with Kawasaki, however, the rider remains unknown at this stage.

“I am delighted to have reached an agreement with Angel and the Viñales Racing Team that will see TPR remain in the FIM Superbike World Championship moving forward with a structure that will allow us to make a big step in terms of performance and see us return to being the competitive team that we know we can be,” Team owner Lucio Pedercini confirmed. “2022 was a difficult year in many ways and after discussing with Angel – who is respected and brings a lot of experience like me from many years in the World Championship – it was an easy decision to make for us to join forces.

“The project is for a minimum of two years and our target is to become the top independent team within the World Superbike paddock.

“I still have a lot of passion and although we did the maximum we could this year, I am a competitor and I want to be at the front.”

“I didn’t have to think long when I contacted Lucio to join forces in this SBK project,” Angel Viñales added. “I have always felt extremely comfortable helping riders in the larger categories, in the end it is with the bikes that I have the most experience.

“I’ve spent more than 10 years in MotoGP and with the experience gained over these past two years with my own team, I think we can do a great job together and meet all the goals we can set for ourselves. I am looking forward to getting going to start giving it the change that we both believe the team needs and become a benchmark in the championship.”

During the Aragon MotoGP Vinales showed race pace good enough to challenge the likes of team-mate Aleix Espargaro, Brad Binder and Jack Miller for a podium. 

But after crashing in qualifying and as a result starting down in 16th, Vinales was then caught up in the collision between Marc Marquez and Takaaki Nakagami.

With Nakagami sliding across the middle of the track on the approach to turn eight, Vinales was left with nowhere to go due to his positioning which was on the outside of the Japanese rider.

 

Still, Vinales’ lap times after that were very impressive, however, the Spaniard was also frustrated by technical issues that arose in FP3, while a misunderstanding with the team at the end of FP1 saw him return to pit lane thinking he would fit new tyres, which was instead not the case. 

Vinales said: “Yeah it was good [race pace]. When I went to the box and saw the lap times, I could have been on the podium again. 

“Not fighting with Bastia [Bastianini] and Pecco [Bagnaia] but between Bastia and Aleix [Espargaro]. I think like in Misano I was able to follow them until mid-race and then drop again. 

“Well, I’m a little bit disappointed because this weekend it was very important. Last year [in Aragon] I was very slow and this year I felt very fast since FP2 and then a lot of technical problems, misunderstandings and it’s something I don’t like because I gave my best. 

“This weekend I didn’t feel like we worked well. We need to analyse and we need to think and improve for Japan because I think our opportunity will come to win the race so we need to be ready. I think this weekend was a good opportunity because the bike was working well.”

Vinales keen to assist Espargaro by taking first MotoGP win with Aprilia

Also involved in a clash with Marquez during the opening lap in Aragon was series leader Fabio Quartararo. 

The Yamaha rider crashed after hitting the back of Marquez and has subsequently seen his championship lead slashed from 30 points to just 10.

Espargaro, who had seen his title challenge begin to fade in recent races, has also closed to within a win and is now only 17 points back thanks to his third place in Aragon.

With every race weekend from now until the end of the season likely to prove crucial in the title fight, Vinales is keen to help his fellow Spaniard by being at the front and taking wins.

“I will not say comeback because when I see the lap times I am there,” added Vinales when asked if he needs to make a ‘comeback’ from Aragon. “Basically do a good Friday, a good Saturday and start in the front. 

“Then, we always have the chance to be on the podium. For me, seeing that I was there on the lap times, equal to Aleix, it makes me feel very strong as this is his best track. 

“I think it’s very important for us and for Aprilia – now I’m talking as a team – I’m sorry for Fabio [Quartararo] because the crash was very nasty and I hope he is okay but we are back on the fighting. 

“Now I need to be in the front. I need to be in the front fighting and help Aleix as much as I can. The way to help him is to try and win races.”

After finishing outside the top ten in FP1 while team-mate Aleix Espargaro was fastest, Vinales sprung into action during the early stages of FP2 as he led the way from Francesco Bagnaia, who could take a fifth consecutive MotoGP victory this weekend. 

Ducati seems to have the edge after day-one as four of the top five riders were all aboard Ducati machinery, however, Vinales feels he and Aprilia have the required pace to challenge: “It is early but I think we will fight for the victory, for sure.  

“If we work well we will fight for the victory because the bike is working well, I’m feeling really motivated and I feel like I’m riding well on the track. We can accomplish an amazing result.”

‘I never felt that improvement before in my life’ – Vinales

Following a difficult start to his tenure at Aprilia, Vinales now appears to be a different rider every time he takes to the circuit. 

With his well-documented problems with Yamaha well and truly behind him, Vinales has begun to show the type of consistency that was lacking during his time with the Japanese manufacturer, something he believes has been largely helped by his new team.

“I never felt that improvement before in my life,” said Vinales when speaking about the turnaround since this time last year. “More than one second per lap in terms of rhythm. It’s amazing. 

“It’s huge the difference and also the feeling I have on the bike, the way I ride on the track, the confidence. Everything is better and with Aprilia I think we work in a fantastic way. 

“It’s just the beginning of our relationship, so I feel myself [being] very strong in the future. Very, very strong.”

While Vinales might be one of the most in-form riders on the grid currently, his home round didn’t get off to the greatest of starts following confusion at the end of FP1.

After seeing the message ‘box’ on his pit board, Vinales returned to pit lane thinking he was going to swap to new tyres, however, that was far from the case: “The last run when I went out the tyres were very used. The front was destroyed so I could not push. 

“When I saw box on the pit board I thought they [would] put new tyres. That’s why I went in. I was expecting to get new tyres but when I went in they said ‘no, no, no’. 

“It was just a shock because I was expecting to put new tyres. But it was good to keep the same tyres in the morning and then start new ones in the afternoon because the rhythm was completely different.” 

Martin ‘one of two tenths’ away from fighting for Aragon MotoGP victory 

Despite topping the opening day of practice at the Aragon MotoGP, Jorge Martin was not entirely pleased after claiming to be ‘one or two tenths from the victory’. 

“Well, it’s only Friday but for sure it’s better to be first than to be 15th, that’s for sure. But the feeling today wasn’t great,” said Martin. 

“In terms of pace I’m not far away, just one or two tenths away from the victory I feel. I need to improve the front and rear feeling a little bit. I’m not super confident. I hope to make a small step tomorrow.” 

A factor to consider for the race is tyre degradation which seems to be higher than previous years. 

In fact, Martin believes the tyre drop in Sunday’s race could be as bad as Barcelona, one of the most severe tracks when it comes to grip in the final stages of a race. 

Martin added: “I feel like it will be a managing race and the drop is amazing. It’s starting to be like Montmelo where the grip is just for one or two laps. 

“I think the rider that manages better the rear [tyre] will be the one that will win on Sunday.”

Vinales was a contender for victory for most of the Misano MotoGP before fading when Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini ramped up the pace wth seven laps to go. 

Still, Vinales once again showed that a first victory with Aprilia is not far away, while again getting the better of team-mate Aleix Espargaro which is the second time that’s happened on merit in the last three races. 

Seemingly much more settled with Aprilia than at any stage with Yamaha, Vinales finally feels like consistency has become a big strength, which results indicate to be the case. 

Asked if he feels vindicated by moving to Aprilia and that his complaints whilst at Yamaha, who are still struggling for performance were justified, Vinales added: “It’s hard to answer. But apart from jokes, we are doing a good job. I remember we started here one year ago and straight away I felt a good potential on the bike and I felt I could be good. 

“I needed a process to adapt to the bike and the bike was totally different [to Yamaha] and a new bike. However, step-by-step I’m getting better and I’m getting used to it. 

“The important thing is already on Friday I started with a good feeling. Then I can improve during the weekend. 

“What I like the most is that normally the lap time I do in FP4 is the same I do in the race, so it gives you a lot of confidence and gives you a lot of calmness that you are going to be fast. Now it looks like I’m good at starts, good on first laps and I’m consistent. I’m not up and down. 

“We improve the atmosphere and how the team works. Aprilia and the whole Piaggio group is working really strong to catch those [Ducati] guys. We cannot stop and we have to keep focusing and believing we can arrive for the victory.” 

Vinales ‘never gave up’ at Aprilia despite tough times

While it took Vinales a while to show the level of performance that he’s currently displaying at Aprilia, their decision to retain him beyond 2022 is proving to be the correct one.

“More than [being] proud, I never gave up even one tenth,” said Vinales. “I know the potential I have and I knew from the first day about the potential that Aprilia had and [that they] can arrive [at the top]. 

“I’m very happy about the results and I’m enjoying the races a lot. I’m very happy.” 

Ducati riders Bagnaia and Bastianini ‘had extra’ in Misano MotoGP battle

After lining up a move on Bagnaia with eight laps to go, Vinales was instead passed by Bastianini who seized his opportunity at turn one. 

Vinales was unable to respond, instead seeing the two Ducatis break clear as he suggested a different strategy should have taken place. 

Vinales added: “They had a little bit extra [in the end] but in the beginning they were struggling. Maybe I make another strategy and go calm at the beginning and then push at the end because there are two or three races that I arrived with some problems [at the end]. 

“But what can I say, I’m sitting here and very proud of Aprilia. It’s the time to make the next step.”