Maverick Vinales says he is still struggling with the electronics and rear grip stability with his Movistar Yamaha after Friday practice at the Losail International Circuit as his issues from the final winter test return.

Vinales, a MotoGP race winner in Qatar 12 months ago on his Yamaha debut, left the Losail test struggling to find a strong set-up with the electronics package on his YZR-M1 and despite having two weeks to attempt to rectify his feeling with the factory Yamaha the Spanish rider concedes the same problems remain.

Vinales ended Friday practice 11th on the timesheet with a best lap time of 1m 55.195s leaving him over eight-tenths off of pace-setter Andrea Dovizioso for Duacti. The Spanish rider finds himself behind both teammate Valentino Rossi and Tech3 Yamaha’s Johann Zarco on the timesheet with his frustrations from the Losail test still dominating his focus.

“It was more like the test, you know, as at the test it was also very difficult so I didn’t expect anything better,” Vinales said. “We have to continue working and develop a little bit more with the bike as I didn’t feel well with the bike.

“[It is] completely the same, honestly, we know the areas which don’t feel well so we have to continue working. We lost a lot of rear grip so it also didn’t help with the front. We will have to make a big change for tomorrow and try some new directions.”

Vinales feels riding style tweaks from last year have enabled him to be much smoother with his Yamaha, using a modified version of its 2016 chassis, as he continues to point the finger at the electronics package.

“I am using the 2016 [chassis] and obviously with a small modification so it is very similar to the 2016,” he said. “I don’t think the problem is with the chassis, it is with the electronics. There is a lot to do and also we have to increase the rear grip which is very important especially for the race distance.

“I tried my best and I try to help by being very gentle with the bike to make sure it doesn’t get into a lot of trouble. I am much smoother than last year because last year I was more aggressive and pushing the bike more. Honestly, we have to improve a lot with the bike.”