2024 will be a particularly important season for Maverick Vinales, who seeks a step up in quality as he heads into his fourth year with Aprilia. During the presentation of the GP24, the Spaniard set out some personal and team-related objectives, also in light of the recent tests at Sepang, very positive overall: "It’s incredible to ride this MotoGP, as it seems even more competitive. The tests went quite well, and the target is to reach maximum performance". Last season, the former Yamaha and Suzuki rider rounded out the year in seventh place, collecting three podiums but no win as yet. Vinales’ last win dates back to the 2021 Qatar race. And it is that same Lusail track that will stage an important two-day test on 19-20 February.

Maverick Vinales: "The aim is to make the Aprilia a supermoto"

After a long winter, the Spaniard is keen to get back out on track and showcase both his and his bike’s potential, the Italian manufacturer having looked to be Ducati’s main rival in recent years, and in the recent tests too: "I can’t wait to get back to it; we’ve worked hard with Aprilia to turn the bike into a supermoto, the goal is to win of course. The key to success is in our hands, we need to work well. Now we have an important two-day test in Qatar where we’ll decide on many things in terms of the technical material".

The Spaniard also underlines the importance of the upcoming test, crucial in order to build on the good sensations of Sepang: "I’m feeling relaxed, these tests will give us some important indications for the future. We were fast already last year, and we’re improving every time we head out on track. We worked calmly and carefully at Sepang and are very focused in our approach. Aprilia has done an incredible job, you can tell there’s real evolution from a technological standpoint.”