Maverick Vinales will copy Jorge Lorenzo's Yamaha MotoGP Mugello lines
MotoGP championship leader Maverick Vinales says he will look to copy his Yamaha predecessor Jorge Lorenzo's Mugello lines in this weekend's Italian Grand Prix
Vinales has won three of his first five races with Yamaha, and finished seventh and sixth in his two previous visits to Mugello in MotoGP as a Suzuki rider.
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While he also won in Moto3 at the circuit in 2013, Vinales says he will look to replicate the style that took fellow Spaniard Lorenzo to victory in five of the last six Italian GPs with Yamaha.
"I have to copy his riding style, because he was really fast," Vinales said.
"I have checked many races and he was always in front. We have good data from him.
"We just have to learn and try to make a good bike and try to make his lines.
"It's really important this weekend to be strong, make a good qualifying and push in the first laps.
"I know we are in a good moment, we are really motivated, we know our bike can be really strong here."
Unlike Lorenzo at Ducati, Vinales has enjoyed a smooth start with his new team, topping all of the winter tests and opening a 17-point championship lead with his third win of 2017 at Le Mans.
The 22-year-old, though, feels he has not yet completely refined his riding style to suit Yamaha's M1.
"After Le Mans, we improved the bike little bit," he said.
"We have many things to learn, I still have to improve the riding style, it's not 100% perfect for the Yamaha.
"Sometimes I'm too hard on the brakes. I go too far with the brakes.
"It's going to be good when I improve that, I'm going to make a step."
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