Source: Supplied.

Favouring the Phillip Island circuit, Maverick Vinales is confident this weekend’s 17th stop of the MotoGP World Championship in Victoria will deliver his strongest finish of the season.

Movistar Yamaha duo Vinales and Valentino Rossi wound up third and second respectively at the Island in 2017, which is a confidence inspiring reflection for the Spaniard, who’s aiming for a return to competitiveness following an enduring seventh at Motegi last weekend.

“We did our best in Japan, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” said Vinales. “Now it’s time to focus on Australia. Phillip Island is one of my favourite tracks. I like its layout a lot, and I love being there, it’s amazing! I had a good experience last year, when we had a double podium with me in the third position, so I’m really motivated for the race.

“Phillip Island is a circuit that brings me good memories. I managed to be on the podium in three categories of the World Championship and I won in 2014 in Moto2. Last year the bike accelerated really well. The team has been working very hard at the last races, so we have to try to be strong, as always, and try to be on the podium again in Australia. We’re going to try to make the bike work and have one of our strongest weekends of the season.”

Vinales holds down fourth in the championship standings with 155 points to his credit, 30 markers behind teammate Rossi.