Image: Supplied.

Maverick Vinales says his last lap crash while challenging Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) at Phillip Island may have been his own mistake, however the Spaniard is still in high spirits after his performance.

The Monster Energy Yamaha rider had dominated the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix until that point, topping every session – including qualifying – while also leading into the final laps of Sunday’s encounter, although a crafty manoeuvre by Marquez as they entered the final lap saw him relinquish the top spot.

Vinales fought back and looked to regain the lead in the dying moments, however he suddenly crashed heading into turn 10, ruling him out of the race altogether.

“I started the last lap much tighter to the curb to have the chance, if Marc would overtake at the last moment, to brake later,” Vinales explained. “But he overtook me before the finish line. Then I was planning to push to the maximum in sector 3 to overtake in Turn 10, and that’s what I did.

“So, before I crashed, I was ready to go in without braking to see what would happen, but I locked the rear. Maybe I made a mistake, I don’t know, and then I just fell down on the other side. Today was a race to win, not to be second. I had the chance, so I tried.

“Anyway, for me it was a very positive race, I crashed but I was satisfied. I gave my best on every lap and the bike was working in a really good way.”

Vinales hangs onto fourth in the championship standings as the series heads to Sepang this weekend for the penultimate round of MotoGP.