Let's talk MotoGP: Maverick Viñales still has the same problem

They have not been idle during this 2023 season. During the winter, “Parlons MotoGP” will look at each of the participants in this exercise, and take stock; today, it’s Maverick Viñales’ turn. Did he succeed? Did he fail? Could we have expected more? It’s time for analysis. Of course, you are invited to give your opinion in comments, because it matters a lot. Yesterday, we returned to Luca Marini, in an article that you can find by clicking here.

 

Well paid

 

I wasn't particularly convinced by Maverick Viñales last year. No more than in 2022, or than in 2021, or than in 2020, or than in 2019… year after year, “Top Gun” continues to disappoint, and 2023 was perhaps one campaign too many ; the one that makes us say that he is not a top driver, and that he never will be.

However, given the results, there would be reason to be satisfied; he is in 7th place in the championship, just behind the great Aleix Espargaro, and took 28% of the available points compared to 24,4% in 2022. The progress is not exceptional, but it is there. And then, he was also closer to the lead, with three second places in Portugal, Catalonia and Indonesia. And yet.

 

 

Already, his position is well paid ; behind him, he has two pilots who scored, proportionately, more points than him, but only they were injured; Luca marini (30,2% of the points amassed out of the total he could take), and Alex Marquez (28,7%). His rightful rank would therefore be approximately at the level of Fabio Quartararo.

If we put the figures aside and look at the track, it's not much more reassuring. Here are some points of analysis that will allow you to easily understand my particular point of view regarding this man.

 

Factory driver

 

Unlike Luca Marini and Alex Marquez, he is an official driver, and what's more, on a machine that works. His job is to win races. And he has only underperformed all year. It's sad to say, but two of his three podiums were failures. In Portugal, he was soundly beaten by Pecco Bagnaia, okay, nothing to say. His second place is beautiful. But in Catalonia, twice, he was very well placed, and twice, he was overtaken.

I don't remember seeing Maverick successfully defend a position, or go for a position with forceps in the final moments. Difficult to attribute this to a lack of fighting spirit, or running IQ, but it is obvious. His teammate Aleix lectured him on Sunday, while Pecco played him on Saturday. And then, finally, in Indonesia, where he failed to attack a burning Bagnaia. We forgive him, it happened to better pilots than him.

Obviously, when we look at his status as an Aprilia factory rider on the one hand, with a very good machine, and his performance on the other, we are entitled to ask questions. It must be said that he was unlucky at certain moments – notably the broken chain on the last lap in Jerez, but overall, even in Mandalika, we never felt he was in a position to play for victory. Given the ambitions of the Noale firm, and the solutions found, it's just too little.

 

 

Aleix still ahead

 

In the box, he was facing one of the greatest pilots in modern history, namely, Aleix Espargaro. All right. But once again, he was beaten by an aging Espargaro (already the third time after 2015 and 2022 if we exclude 2021, where he started as a Yamaha official), who was much less consistent than two years ago. It's a shame, because it ruins the dynamics of the Italian company. From the moment one loses power – after all, Aleix is ​​already 34 years old, the other should take over to always keep an RS-GP at the forefront.

The difference in points is small, but not that of the raw results. One pole each, certainly, but three victories for Aleix counting the Sprints, compared to none for “Top Gun”. The gap of two points is therefore not representative, and we saw it again on the track. In Barcelona, ​​where the Aprilia was almost unbeatable, he was unable to do anything.

 

Attitude, always attitude

 

Maverick always gives this impression of psychological weakness. This is probably not true; he is still Moto3 world champion. But if we add his body language to his cruel lack of incisiveness on the track, that's the impression it gives. He was very happy after the Indonesian Grand Prix which he should have won, while Fabio Quartararo, third, wanted more. The difference between a winner and a very good driver is there. Just like after the Catalan Grand Prix, his second position seemed to be enough for him. I am obliged to mention his physical retirement during the Thai Grand Prix, due to excessive heat.

I can't judge him, that would be unfair. But I'm just pointing out that the only abandonment of this guy in recent history is for him, and not for anyone else. He was also criticized by Raul Fernandez for this fact.

 

Conclusion

 

I don't think his season is bad, just that the statistics skew our opinion of him. He is not as strong as his rank suggests. With a MotoGP so successful, at his young age – he is only 28, he should have done better. I fear that Aprilia, by keeping a constantly underperforming Vinales, will miss its shooting window once Aleix Espargaro declines. Does he even have the makings of a factory driver? I'm just asking the question, waiting for him to answer it. Is he the one who will bring Aprilia into the Ducati dimension? For this one, I think I'm sure.

Regarding the rating, I will give it an 11/20. What do you think ? Tell me in the comments!

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport