MotoGP pole sitter Maverick Vinales admitted that he was even surprised by the pace he had during qualifying for the opening round of the season in Qatar.

The Spaniard, fully equipped with new number for 2019, came into qualifying on the back of a strong display in free practice and wasted little time in posting the fastest lap of the session. Vinales went on to go even faster, taking the pole position with a 1:53.546, 0.198 seconds ahead of second placed Andrea Dovizioso.

Vinales said that he felt strong on his Monster Energy Yamaha Factory M1, but but confessed to being surprised himself at just how quick he was in the colder conditions.

“We won the qualifying yesterday, because yesterday I felt really good on the bike when the coldest conditions were on the track,” said the Spaniard.

“But I didn’t expect to go fast like that today because it was windy and the track was very slippery, especially at the front. We did a good time, we worked so hard in FP4, we found some lines that I really pushed in sector two.

“We improved quite a lot from yesterday and this was the most important thing. We’re working in a good way. I think Yamaha understand my riding style really good. I can push the bike and that’s the most important thing.

“I felt really good and I pushed. I didn’t make my best lap on the first one but I was pretty close to the good lap times. I felt okay, now you have to push and try to give your best and I did.”

Vinales has looked a rejuvenated rider in 2019, a new crew chief amongst other changes to his garage has seen the young Spaniard look happier and more confident than he did at any point in 2019.

When asked what’s changed, Vinales said: “It’s a combination of everything I changed quite a lot the team. I feel much better inside the team.

“We made a good plan, especially for this weekend. Also with Yamaha we’ve worked very good, so for sure it’s a combination of everything but when I feel good I can push and bring the bike at it’s best.”

Q1 saw three crashes at turn two and many riders said that the cold track conditions were to blame for that. Vinales had been one of the riders pushing for race direction to bring the start time of the race forwards from 8pm local time to 7pm as they did in 2018. In spite of the crashes, Vinales doesn’t expect any changes.

“I don’t think so,” he said.

“Yesterday they said 8:00 and I think it will be like this. Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow.”

Despite taking the pole position, the star of qualifying was arguably Vinales’ Yamaha stable mate, Fabio Quartararo. The French teenager qualified in fifth position, just four tenths off the pole position and Vinales said he’s been impressed by what he’s seen from the rookie.

“He’s doing great,” said Vinales. “We’ve already seen in the test it’s not just one lap, he had a good rhythm and he’s doing great.

“He has to continue like this, trying to save crashes but the most important thing for him is to keep riding and try to be smart; but I think he is really smart. What I’ve seen is Fabio is a really talented rider, so for sure he is fast. I’m glad that he can work with the work and we can see if Fabio is doing something better than me we can improve.”