MotoGP 2017: Maverick Vinales struggling to decide on Yamaha

A seat alongside Valentino Rossi to replace the Ducati-bound Jorge Lorenzo is the next big piece of the silly season to fall into place, and Vinales is on Yamaha's radar.

While Vinales finished the last round of the championship at Jerez saying he was keen to have make a decision quickly, the 21-year-old has arrived at Le Mans without one made, still weighing up his two options.

"Honestly it's very difficult," he told Autosport. "One day I wake up and I say, 'OK, here'.

"Then on another day I think again, I wake up and say, 'but maybe this one is better for me'.

"Still I need to understand where is my place.

"I want to decide as soon as I can, because it's important for me."

While Vinales is yet to make a call on his future, team-mate Aleix Espargaro is keen to extend his Suzuki stay.

Both riders joined the outfit when it returned to MotoGP last year, and are sixth and seventh in the riders' standings after four races, separated by one point in Vinales' favour.

Espargaro told Autosport his discussions with Suzuki are underway.

"We are starting the talks now," he said.

"In the next races we will discuss the future, but obviously I would like to stay with Suzuki, because they gave me a really great opportunity two years ago.

"It's the first factory that really believed in me. I would really like to stay with Suzuki."