Maverick Vinales didn't expect MotoGP win before moving to Yamaha

Vinales won at Silverstone on Sunday in his 30th premier-class start, ending a winless run for Suzuki dating back to May 2007 when Chris Vermeulen won that year's French Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old was signed by Yamaha earlier this year to replace the Ducati-bound Jorge Lorenzo, and while Suzuki has made a significant step forward in its second year back in MotoGP, Vinales says winning is something he had considered more likely for 2017.

"It is the best moment [of my career]," he said.

"I didn't think this year I could win. I was just thinking next year to try to do it and I'm so happy for the team.

"They deserve it, they work so hard. Doing it for Suzuki is one of the best things I could give to them.

"We won and I want to stay at the top in the next races and stay [there] until the end."

Vinales claimed his maiden MotoGP podium at Le Mans earlier this year, but has expressed frustration that the Suzuki's pace - enough for him to jokingly brand the team "champions of Friday" at Silverstone - disappeared in hot conditions or the rain.

Last weekend's cool weather and Silverstone's high-speed changes of direction played into Vinales' and Suzuki's hands on Sunday, but the Spaniard believes the key breakthrough came in the wet on Saturday.

Only 17th and 3.996 seconds off the pace in fourth practice, changes by Suzuki in the narrow window before qualifying led to Vinales qualifying third in similar conditions.

"It was a different base set-up, also a little bit of electronics," he said of the changes.

"Honestly, it was the key, because in FP4 I was three seconds [behind].

"The team worked so hard in half an hour to improve and put us in third position, to start from there made it a little bit more easy, the first laps.

"I need to say thanks to them because from three seconds to be on third position on the grid was quite good."