Vinales insists Qatar MotoGP victory not a must

Vinales was quickest in each of the four off-season tests since joining Yamaha from Suzuki, the Spaniard setting the pace in Valencia, Sepang, Phillip Island and, most recently, Qatar.

However, Vinales suggests that his Yamaha race debut, which is to take place in Qatar on March 26, can be a positive one even if he doesn't win - although he made it clear he will certainly target first place.

"I didn't put that pressure not even on me and not even on the team," Vinales said when asked whether he'd be gunning for victory at all costs at Losail.

"I think we must work for the win, but we 'don't must' win, it's just the first race, we have to get experience.

"For sure, our goal is trying to win because after the test we are seeing that we have an incredible pace and we want to try to continue on that level."

Vinales went into the Qatar test confident of his ability to put together a strong lap, but seeking improvements to his long runs.

After the test, the Spaniard said progress was made with regards to race pace: "Honestly we've been working really good - I know with one lap I can be really fast ,but I was having some doubts on the race pace.

"But finally it was really good, so I'm quite happy about that."

"I was feeling really strong at the end [of the race simulation], low 1m55s, I could go a little bit faster even - maybe it was too risky, but I think it was a good way, we ended the test in a good way."

Vinales has the edge, say rivals

While Vinales has been reluctant to speak of himself as an early-season favourite, several of his fellow top riders have noted that the Spaniard looked to be a step ahead in Qatar.

Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, who topped the opening day of the 2017 test before Vinales headed the two remaining days, said after running concluded: "I'm quite happy, not too happy. Because the pace is quite good but the comparison with Maverick is not that good.

"He's really fast, he's really confident. In any condition, any day, he was really fast, about the pace but also the laptime. I believe he was able to make a better laptime if he really wanted to push."

Dovizioso's new teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who Vinales replaced at Yamaha, echoed the sentiment: "Vinales is very strong, and I don't think it's just the Yamaha, as he's ahead of the other Yamaha riders."

Reigning champion Marc Marquez of Honda said: "There's a rider, Maverick, who is ahead on this track - but after him I think we are there to fight."

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont