Defending Le Mans winner ꩲMaverick Vinales felt helpless to prevent himself slipping from first to eight𝓡h on the Saturday MotoGP timesheets.

Air and track temperatures were 13 and 22 degrees respectively when the Movi🌳star Yamahaꩲ topped the morning FP3 session.

But when temperatures rose to over 20 and 4🌳0 degrees for final practice and qualifying, the aspha🗹lt became more slippery and the long-running traction problems returned.

"I wish the race was at 9am!" said Vinales.

"If my bike was like the morning I was able to fight for the pole. But like it was in tဣhe afternoon it was impossible. I know the level I have, I know the rider I am. I know when the bike is working I am there, the top thr🐭ee."

He added: "In the morning I✅ felt really good. It was like a [shot in the arm]. 'Okay, I feel fast agai♎n'.

"I could keep '32.0 on old tyres, then I put new tyres and very easily went into the mid🌞 '31. So I was pretty happy and confident🐻 I could do a low '31 in qualifying.

"But t🍌hen in qualifying it was quite hot, the tarmac was a little bit slippery and it was the same problem as always. I can do nothing.

"This moꦅrning with 36 laps on the tyre I was '32.3 all the time. But in the afternoon it was so difficult to do mid '32. So it's difficult.

"I have to take💙 FP4 as a reference for the race and the rhythm is not incredible. It's good, but not enough to fight for the win, for sure."

Asked to confirm it's the same traction problems the factory Yam🧔aha team have been battling for just over a year, the Spaniard replied:

"Yeah, exactly the same problem as before. Exactly as last year, so 🌜let's see if tomorrow we can make something special.

"When I can ride the bike [well] I push 🉐my♓ best and when I cannot ride the bike, I push also my best."

Team-mate Valentino Rossi mirrorꦺed Vi⛎nales' decline, dropping from third in FP3 to ninth on the grid.

Vinales, currently third in the worl🌠d championship, has not won since last year's Le Mans race.