Vinales: Copying Rossi's set-up helped me take podium

After qualifying a disappointing seventh on Saturday, Vinales managed to recover to third place behind Repsol Honda duo Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa in a race dominated by strategy on a drying track.

The Yamaha rider was helped by making an earlier switch to his second bike than some of his rivals, including Rossi, who came home one place behind Vinales.

It marked Vinales’ first podium finish since June’s Mugello race, and came on the first race weekend that the Spanish rider used Yamaha’s latest chassis on both of his bikes, bringing him in line with Rossi.

Speaking post-race, Vinales admitted that adopting a set-up similar to that of the Italian veteran was partly behind his strong dry pace.

“I think we’ve found the way again,” said Vinales, who now lies 14 points behind Marquez in the standings. “Valentino helped us find it.

“We tried a set-up very similar to his and we did well, and it was using the same chassis as him.

“I felt very good in the dry, like at the beginning of the year. I increased my confidence and I feel stronger in the title fight.

“The first laps [after pitting] were hard because it was difficult to get heat in the tyres and I had no feeling. I pitted a little late as well.

“To reach the podium is a good result, almost like a win.”