Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales certainly pushed hard at Mugello trying to take the victory, but the polesitter and initial leader had something more than simply the winner's trophy on his mind: the Championship. Having taken a 17 point lead away from the French GP, the rider from Roses wanted to extend it again - calling it a key moment in the season.
Key it may prove, and although not over the line first, the Spaniard extended the gap at the top in Italy - making for excellent reading ahead of his home Catalan GP at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next weekend.
"I’m so pleased about second because today was a difficult day, and after the crash on Friday. Today, I tried, especially at the beginning trying to push, but Dovizioso was really strong today." He said
"I was happy with my bike. I’m a rider who always prepares for the last six or seven laps to push – but I’m also thinking of the Championship and today the twenty points are more important."
"Next is Barcelona and we’re in a good moment, we have a lot of setups in case one doesn’t work. We’re really motivated, we have a good level and we just need to continue like this and take as many points as we can."