Movistar Yamaha's Maverick Vinales went back to a setup he used at the 2017 Qatar MotoGP round in order to find confidence in yesterday's free practice four race run and it worked, meaning all the work done in testing for 2018 was 'useless'.

The Spaniard has been struggling with electronic and grip issues front and rear with the 2018 bikes - the same as the second half of last season - so his team decided to try setting from the Losail round last year and it worked as Vinales was able to run a string of laps in the 1'55s.

“It seems on our side of the box we didn't find something I like. In FP4 we changed quite a lot the bike, similar to what I was riding last year, and I felt much, much better, already from the first lap. So we have to continue working, trying to simulate bike from the beginning of last year a little bit, you know, the positive points, and let's see what we can do," said Vinales, speaking at the track.

"Honestly, looking at the setup we used today, it was like the test was useless, for me and for my side. So we have to continue working and trying to find a positive way. Honestly, right now, I feel like I lost three months, because the bike is totally different, and already from the first lap I felt much more comfortable than the bike I rode three months ago.

“Finally it is a race, and I think that if I have the feeling I get in FP4, I can go over and be in the top. But we have to continue working and think in the future about the way we are going to take.”