Vinales: It's difficult to say no to Yamaha

Maverick Vinales is heavily linked with a move to the Japanese manufacturer after defending MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo revealed he will join Ducati in 2017.

Maverick Vinales (left) is one of the highest-rated youngsters on the MotoGP grid.

Suzuki rider Maverick Vinales admitted it would be "difficult to say no" to a move to Yamaha next season. 

Vinales is heavily linked with a move to the Japanese manufacturer after defending MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo revealed he will join Ducati in 2017. 

Spaniard Vinales is one of the highest-rated youngsters on the MotoGP grid and claimed his first podium finish in the premier class at the Grand Prix of France last week.

However, despite interest from a championship-winning team, the 21-year-old has yet to make a decision on his future.

"Suzuki is a family and they trusted me. I made my debut with them in the premier class and I get along very well with my team and the top management," Vinales explained to Cycle World.

"I know that if I stay, the development of the bike will be made around me and this helps. It is a romantic dream to try and gain a title for Suzuki as Kevin Schwantz did.

But Kevin won only one crown, while in those years Mick Doohan won five titles with Honda. This makes me think. I believe that Kevin's bike was not at the same level of the other bikes and he made the difference. So to have a competitive bike is the key."

He added: "I'm proud that someone can put my name next to Schwantz, but in the end you need results. If I finish fourth or fifth, I'm not a legend, not even with Suzuki.

"I have to look for something that will allow me to gain a world title. And if the team that has won the world title looks for you, it's difficult to say no."

As for the possibility of becoming Valentino Rossi's team-mate, Vinales said: "It will help me a lot to grow as a rider. He has so much experience and if he has won nine world titles it means that he has something special.

"Moreover, the competition with the team-mate helps you to raise the bar and compete at another level. Look at Lorenzo, he has won three MotoGP world titles."