The next MotoGP season promises to be as uncertain and exciting as the one that has just passed. It is already certain that it will be historic with 21 Grands Prix and a new format focusing on sprint races. On the track, there is already talk of a duel in the Ducati stand between reigning World Champion Pecco Bagnaia and his new teammate Enea Bastianini. But the campaign could also resonate with another fratricidal duel in an Aprilia box where the counters between Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales will also be reset to zero...
Maverick Vinales will undoubtedly be eternally grateful to Aleix Espargaró for having opened the doors to himAprilia while those of Yamaha closed behind him. But this good feeling will not obscure the ancestral rule in the industry that for a driver, the teammate is the first rival. In 2022, the Top Gun was not yet sufficiently familiar with the subtleties of RS-GP, unlike his compatriot who has been playing in Noale's project since 2017. So he kept a low profile, still making some nice moves. 'brilliance, but by showing himself available to help Aleix Espargaró in the conquest of a world title which would have shined on the entire team. A scenario which will undoubtedly be different in 2023.
Maverick Vinales thus lays the foundations for the next season. And he has the capacity to do so given a journey in 2022 marked by clear progression in the understanding of his Aprilia. A moment revealed at the end of the first part of the season. At the Sachsenring, he was level with his teammate Aleix Espargaró for the first time. A fault in the level corrector at the rear caused the retirement, preventing a very likely excellent result. A week later, in Assen, the same Casa Particular in Viñales took his first podium by finishing third. The Spaniard continued his momentum after the summer break as he was close to victory at Silverstone with second place. In Misano, third place was validated. Then there was the decline in performance of the Noale firm which spoiled the end of the course.
Still, in 2023, we wait Aprilia at the rendezvous with two other RS-GP placed at RNF including in the hands of the five-time winner in MotoGP, with KTM, Miguel Oliveira. Maverick Vinales claims eight successes with Yamaha in the category and his teammate, fourth in the last championship, only one with the RS-GP. Casa Particular in Viñales already warns that next year will be approached differently than last year: “ I didn't have clear expectations », he recalls about his season on motorsport total. " I tried to ride the bike well. My goal was to get to know her. Halfway through the season, we were at a very good level ».
Maverick Vinales: “ if I could have fought for the title, things would have been different with Aleix Espargaró«
And he adds: “ I'll take this with me next season because I have that in mind. I'm pretty positive about it. We had good results. I think I know the bike and the team well now. We reached a good level together. I think this season was important to stay focused and learn a lot ».
This clarification comes to 2023: “ every year is different. Next year, of course, I will have more pressure. It's logic. We must progress because our objectives are clear. If we do well and work smart, then we can do well ". But what is he talking about? Of this : " When I first met Massimo Rivola, we had a long conversation. I told him that if I signed with Aprilia, it was to win, that I didn't just want to sign to keep a place in MotoGP. Massimo did not hesitate for a second and told me that this project was created to attack the title ».
Relations with Aleix Espargaró are therefore likely to change. And if we still had any doubt on the subject, Maverick Vinales raises it immediately, assuring us of this: “ if I could have fought for the title, things would have been different with Aleix Espargaró ". Looking forward to back to school!
