There were mixed messages coming out of the factory Yamaha squad on Wedne🎀sday evening as Maverick Viñales talked up one of the fact♑ory’s new engine specs soon after setting the fourth fastest time at the MotoGP test at Jerez.

Viñales confirmed his feelings with one of the two new motors Yamaha brought to Valencia for its ri🦂ders to try last week, with the first of those much i꧟mproved in terms of engine braking.

Team-mate Valentino Rossi agreed, stating his preference for the same engine. But while the Italian s🐠aid it was still nowhere near the improv🔥ement needed to fight consistently with Ducati and Honda, Viñales felt he could “keep really good lap times until the end of the life of the tyre.”

“Today [our work] was the engine,” stated the 23-year old. “The same test as in Valencia, trying to understand what is the way. this track is even more difficult for us than Valencia. Valencia i💎t’s easier for us.

“We are being constant, with many laps on the tyre and I’m quite happy. The bike was working well. I think more or less the decision is in front [is clear] but we have⛄ to check.

“I prefer the engine with more engine brake because for my riding style i෴t helps a lot. I don’t need so much top 🌜speed to make the lap time. Let’s see. I’m curious to see how it is if tomorrow we modify the set-up and we can be more competitive.

“It’s good. It’s good. We keep the tyres until nearly 30 laps so it’s a good feeling because still I can keep really good lap times unti♉l the end of the life of the tyre. I think still we can improve a lot with the electronics, with ꧃the base of the set-up.

“Now the engine works a bit different so the bike permits me to enter faster. I need to change a little bit the bike. Before I just needed to stop the bik💞e, pick it up and go. Now I can be riding more naturally and maybe I can improve a lot the bike.”

Asked whether he was worried Yamaha may value 🐭Rossi’s comments over his won, he said, “No, I’m not worried. I’m not worried because I think my comments are very cl♔ear. We can see my comments in the data.

“Then it’s Yamaha that need to decide which engine. Finally they have the 🔥power to decide that. We need to give good answers, clear comments. I’m pushing and making good lap times.

“But I’m happy the engine is working a little bit b🔜etter on the entry♕ of the corner. That’s where I was missing last year.”

Wednesday was also the first day Viñales had the chance to work with new crew chief Esteban Garcia. “It was good,” he said of being reunited with the figure that directed hi𒐪m to a Moto3 world championship in 2013.

“It was good to remember. Esteban is a really good person. So we work well. We were on the top for a while before t✃he Ducatis put the new tyre. I’m actually really happy with him.”