MotoGP Maverick Viñales: “we now have a very good objective with Aprilia which is to become world champions”

Maverick Viñales has rediscovered his euphoric phase which he knows how to express with such disarming naturalness that he then reveals himself to be ecstatic. This is the case when the Top Gun feels good, and it can be just as oppositely extreme when he encounters the dark side of the force in disappointment, resentment, depression. Still, this current joy of living and racing is based on the very real fact that, since the Sachsenring, he is once again a proven candidate for the podium. Given his talent, given his growing complicity with the RS-GP, he will have a role to play in the title race which currently opposes his three colleagues Quartararo, Bagnaia, but also his teammate and declared friend Aleix Espargaró.

« What matters is that we now have a very good objective with Aprilia: to become world champions ". The declaration of Maverick Vinales is clear and it implies that he will put himself at the service of this great cause of which he will not be the main beneficiary, since he is indeed his teammate Aleix Espargaro who is in position to play for the crown this year. From there, we will still have to play it smart. The Spanish of 27 years wants to make a strong contribution to this common cause, but he also indicated that he would wait until formalities are put in place. So, if he is not resistant to future team instructions, he also wanted a prior dialogue on the subject.

That being said, Maverick Vinales comes a long way. His last year was marked by a shattering divorce from Yamaha , who had previously laid him off, a first, a terrible death in his family, after the fatal accident in the Supersport300 race of Dean Berta Vinales, and the difficulty of getting used to a machine equipped with a V4, when it was upgraded to in-line four cylinders. Let them be Suzuki ou Yamaha .

But Top Gun overcame all that, to return to the forefront today. This is an opportunity to remember that it’s not just anyone. Maverick Vinales has won 25 victories and 70 podiums during the 199 GP in which he has participated so far. In 2013 he won the world title in the Moto3 category. Some people think that he would have done even better if his character was not so versatile. And he agrees by responding: “ I agree, but I'm not finished yet either ».

Maverick Viñales can become the only MotoGP rider to win on three different brands

And indeed: if he wins his first victory with Aprilia, whom he interviewed during the last meeting at Silverstone, he will put himself back in the saddle among the tenors of the category by becoming the first of these to have materialized with three brands: Suzuki, Yamaha , and so Aprilia. On this perspective, he says: “ I don't pay too much attention to these things » he says, but at the same time emphasizes: « but I think that says a lot about a driver. It's good to know these things, even if you're focused on the moment as a pilot ».

Before reaching the top of the basket, Maverick Vinales did hard work behind the scenes with his team. He also highlights it thus: “ some things are difficult for the viewer to understand. He doesn't see all the work that is done, he only watches the 40 minutes of the race. But at Aprilia we work every day, every hour, every minute to find a tenth of a second on the track ».

« You don't see this work. While we are trying to achieve the best possible result during a GP weekend, Aprilia is already thinking about how to improve for the next race. And in my case, since I arrived at Aprilia, they have been thinking about what can be done to make my job easier so that I can be more competitive » finishes the current ninth in the championship who now seems ready to play referee in the title race this year. Which will allow it to set a date for the season MotoGP 2023 ...