Monster Energy factory Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales said he was delighted to secure back-to-back podiums at the Sachsenring, even if he didn’t have the pace to go with race winner Marc Marquez.

Starting from the outside of the front row, Vinales was aggressive in the opening laps and tried to challenge Marquez for the lead. The Yamaha man didn’t have the pace to challenge Marquez, and after fending off Crutchlow, he secured his second podium in seven days.

“I think today we made the best plan we could do,” said the Yamaha man.

“We knew the hard was a little bit softer, and somehow I played my cards, I tried to be with Marc at the beginning and then I tried to survive.

“Honestly it was very difficult because first I had to catch Alex and Cal was very close. I rode really defensive, closing all the doors because I knew if he overtook me second place was gone. I tried to concentrate on my way.

“We did a good job with the team, but today somehow the track was very different from yesterday and we lose all the grip, so I understand very fast. For me it’s great, being first and second in consecutive races, trying to get more consistency on the bike is great.”

Vinales has been much improved since the Catalan round in Barcelona, when asked what’s led to the change, Vinales said: “Normally we focus a lot in FP1 and that is why I run many, many laps with the race set up, as I feel like FP1 usually looks like the race.

“So I tried to get use to it and I try to ride the bike in the best way even if it’s no grip or whatever if I’m slow or fast. So we change a lot the plan for the practices and it seems to work, so I’m quite happy.

“Honestly I didn’t expect to be in the 22 highs or 23, but anyway it was the lap time to do with our bike and happy to take the maximum potential right now.”