Maverick Viñales

Maverick Viñales Ruiz[1] (born 12 January 1995) is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle racer and former Moto3 world champion, taking the title in 2013.[2][3] He is currently competing in the premier class of MotoGP, where in 2015 he won the rookie of the year title in MotoGP.[4]

Maverick Viñales
Viñales in 2019
Nationality	Spanish
Born	(1995-01-12) 12 January 1995 Figueres, Spain
Current team	Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
Bike number	12
Website	https://www.mvk12.com
Motorcycle racing career statistics MotoGP World Championship Active years 2015– Manufacturers Suzuki, Yamaha Championships 0 2019 championship position 3rd (211 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 95 7 25 10 9 981 Moto2 World Championship Active years 2014 Manufacturers Kalex Championships 0 2014 championship position 3rd (274 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 18 4 9 1 5 274 Moto3 World Championship Active years 2012–2013 Manufacturers FTR Honda, KTM Championships 1 (2013) 2013 championship position 1st (323 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 32 8 22 7 4 530 125cc World Championship Active years 2011 Manufacturers Aprilia Championships 0 2011 championship position 3rd (248 pts) Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 17 4 9 3 3 248

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Viñales and the second or maternal family name is Ruiz.

Career

Early career

Born in Figueres, Alt Empordà, Viñales began competitive racing at the age of three in minimotos before moving onto motocross and eventually to circuit racing in 2002, competing in the Catalan 50cc Championship, before several successful seasons in 70cc "metrakit" bikes.[5] In 2007, he became champion of the Catalan 125cc Championship, and repeated the feat in 2008, as well as winning the Mediterranean Trophy. Also in 2008, he competed at selected events in the German IDM 125GP Championship for RZT Racing aboard an Aprilia RS 125 R, achieving a best result of seventh. He moved up to the CEV Buckler 125GP series in 2009, with the Blusens-BQR team, partnering Miguel Oliveira in the team. Viñales finished the season as Rookie of the Year as he finished as the runner-up to Alberto Moncayo in the championship standings, by just four points. Viñales claimed four successive podiums during the season, including a victory at Jerez.[6] In 2010, Viñales and Oliveira joined different teams from Blusens and battled it out for the championship title and despite winning only two races – both at Albacete – compared to Oliveira's four wins and two second places, Viñales took the title by just two points after finishing each of the season's seven races on the podium as Oliveira crashed out of one race at Albacete.[1] The single race for the 2010 European Championship title was also taking place at Viñales's winning circuit Albacete where he narrowly took his third victory of the year at the same venue.[7]

125cc World Championship

2011

Viñales moved into the 125cc World Championship ahead of the 2011 season, partnering category veteran Sergio Gadea, who returned to the 125cc class after a season in Moto2, at the SuperMartxé VIP team after the Blusens-BQR team joined forces with American socialite Paris Hilton.[8] He impressed during pre-season testing at Valencia,[9] and finished ninth on his Grand Prix début in Qatar. After retiring at Jerez due to brake failure, Viñales finished fourth at Estoril, narrowly missing out on a podium to Johann Zarco in a photo-finish with the margin between the pair being 0.002 seconds.[10] Two weeks later at Le Mans, Viñales took his first front-row grid start with third place, and after a race-long battle with championship leader Nicolás Terol, Terol made a mistake at the penultimate corner and Viñales cut inside him and took the victory by 0.048 seconds.[11][12] His victory, at the age of 16 years, 123 days, made him the third-youngest rider to win a Grand Prix race behind Scott Redding and Marco Melandri.[13] Three further victories during the season enabled Viñales to finish his rookie season in third place in the championship rankings and he won the Rookie of the Year award.

Moto3 World Championship

2012

Viñales at the 2012 Australian Grand Prix

Viñales went into the 2012 season as title favourite in the newly formed Moto3 championship. He won five races early on in the season, but a lack of consistency with several crashes meant that he was not able to keep up with Sandro Cortese. Going into Malaysia still with a slim chance of winning the title, he shocked fans and media when he angrily left his team and flew back home, withdrawing from the race. Cortese won the race and the title with Luis Salom moving into second place. Viñales later stated that he had not been informed of offers from other Moto3 teams, that the team refused to move him up into Moto2 and instead made him sign an extension to his contract into 2014 and that he was unable to win with them as it was a "second division team".[14]

Viñales at the 2013 Aragon Grand Prix

Viñales eventually apologized[15] and returned to the team for the final two races of the season, securing third in the standings, but losing the runner-up spot to Salom.

2013

He moved to Team Calvo for 2013, riding alongside Ana Carrasco. Sorting out his new contract after his walkout in Malaysia supposedly was a very delicate affair which included a high release fee having to be paid to his former team and interest also being expressed by the Marc VDS Moto3 team.[16] He won his first two races with Team Calvo back-to-back at round three and four, the Spanish and French Grand Prix. In later races he had several opportunities to win as he was leading the last laps at San Marino, Aragon and Philip Island, but on all occasions he was eventually overtaken by fellow Spanish rider Álex Rins. He was starting to fade from the title fight with two races to go and only a slim chance left to win, but at Motegi both championship front runners Luis Salom and Alex Rins didn't score any points as both crashed out of the race, Salom being taken out by Viñales' cousin Isaac Viñales. Viñales finished second behind rookie Álex Márquez, putting him back into the title fight. The three riders went into the final round with a gap of just five points between them. As Salom crashed out and rejoined to finish 14th, Rins and Viñales continued battling until the very last corner. In the end, Viñales narrowly took the victory and Moto3 World Championship with Rins finishing runner-up.

Moto2 World Championship

2014

Viñales signed a two-year contract with Pons Racing, due to expire at the end of 2015. He joined former title rival Luis Salom in the team.[17] He took his first intermediate class victory at the Circuit of the Americas on 13 April 2014.[18] He ultimately finished the season in third place in the riders' championship with four wins and nine podiums. He also won the Rookie of the Year award.

MotoGP World Championship

Viñales at the 2015 Catalan Grand Prix

In September 2014 it was announced that Viñales would move up to the MotoGP class for the 2015 season, riding for the factory Suzuki team on their return to the class. He partnered Aleix Espargaró at the team.[19]

2015

Viñales had a decent debut season with the factory Suzuki team. As it was the comeback year for the Japanese manufacturer they received various concessions for development and the bike underwent several changes during the season. Viñales finished 16 out of 18 races, scoring six Top 10 results along the way, once again showing consistency as his strength. He ended the season in 12th place, winning the Rookie of the Year award.

2016

The 2016 season saw an improved bike and almost immediate success for Viñales and the factory Suzuki team. Viñales took his first MotoGP podium with third place in France. and his first ever MotoGP win at the British Grand Prix and Suzuki's first win since Chris Vermeulen's win in France in 2007, moving him to 4th place in the championship. After Jorge Lorenzo announced his move to the Ducati team, Viñales was signed to replace him at the factory Yamaha team in 2017 and 2018.[20]

2017

His 2017 MotoGP campaign started with victory in Qatar making him the first rider to win on debut for Yamaha since Valentino Rossi in 2004 and the first rider to win on a debut for any team since Casey Stoner in 2011. His strong start to the season continued with victory in Argentina, leading to many tipping Viñales as a championship contender. In the following race in the USA, there was disappointment when Viñales was forced to retire, crashing after only 2 laps from fourth place. Viñales followed this up with a sixth-place finish in Jerez and a hard fought victory over Rossi at Le Mans. However, this was to be his last victory of the season. Viñales went on to take third in the rider's championship, finishing the season on 230 points, 22 points ahead of this teammate.

2018

At the Yamaha official season launch in January 2018, Viñales announced that he had signed a two-year contract extension, guaranteeing his factory seat through the 2020 season.[21]

The 2018 season was difficult for Viñales and a struggling Yamaha team. Despite a number of early season podiums for Viñales and his teammate Rossi, Yamaha set a new record winless streak of 25 races before Viñales scored a win at Phillip Island.[22] Viñales finished the season with 193 points in fourth place of the rider's championship, 5 points behind his teammate.

2019

In November 2018 as the provisional 2019 entry list was published, Viñales confirmed he would be switching from his traditional race number 25 to the number 12 previously used by Troy Bayliss.[23] Viñales claimed the change was because he "felt that [he] needed to do something different" and had previously used the number 12 in motocross as a youth, since his birthday is 12 January.[24]

Personal life

Viñales has a cousin, Isaac Viñales, who has competed in the 125cc, Moto3 and Moto2 World Championships.[25] He was named Maverick because his father was a fan of Top Gun movie.[26]

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

Season	Class	Motorcycle	Team	Number	Race	Win	Podium	Pole	FLap	Pts	Plcd	WCh
2011	125cc	Aprilia RSA 125	Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing	25	17	4	9	3	3	248	3rd	–
2012	Moto3	FTR M312	Blusens Avintia	25	15	5	7	5	1	207	3rd	–
2013	Moto3	KTM RC250GP	Team Calvo	25	17	3	15	2	3	323	1st	1
2014	Moto2	Kalex Moto2	Paginas Amarillas HP 40	40	18	4	9	1	5	274	3rd	–
2015	MotoGP	Suzuki GSX-RR	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	25	18	0	0	0	0	97	12th	–
2016	MotoGP	Suzuki GSX-RR	Team SUZUKI ECSTAR	25	18	1	4	0	2	202	4th	–
2017	MotoGP	Yamaha YZR-M1	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	25	18	3	7	5	4	230	3rd	–
2018	MotoGP	Yamaha YZR-M1	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	25	18	1	5	1	2	193	4th	–
2019	MotoGP	Yamaha YZR-M1	Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP	12	19	2	7	3	1	211	3rd	–
2020	MotoGP	Yamaha YZR-M1	Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP	12	4	0	2	1	0	48*	3rd*	–
Total					162	23	65	21	21	2033		1

By class

Class	Seasons	1st GP	1st Pod	1st Win	Race	Win	Podiums	Pole	FLap	Pts	WChmp
125cc	2011	2011 Qatar	2011 France	2011 France	17	4	9	3	3	248	0
Moto3	2012–2013	2012 Qatar	2012 Qatar	2012 Qatar	32	8	22	7	4	530	1
Moto2	2014	2014 Qatar	2014 Americas	2014 Americas	18	4	9	1	5	274	0
MotoGP	2015–present	2015 Qatar	2016 France	2016 Great Britain	95	7	25	10	9	981	0
Total	2011–Present				162	23	65	21	21	2033	1

Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Class	Bike	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Pos	Pts
2011	125cc	Aprilia	QAT 9	SPA Ret	POR 4	FRA 1	CAT 2	GBR Ret	NED 1	ITA 3	GER 3	CZE 6	IND 2	RSM 7	ARA 3	JPN 4	AUS 8	MAL 1	VAL 1			3rd	248
2012	Moto3	FTR Honda	QAT 1	SPA 6	POR 2	FRA Ret	CAT 1	GBR 1	NED 1	GER 17	ITA 1	IND Ret	CZE 4	RSM 5	ARA DNS	JPN 2	MAL WD	AUS Ret	VAL 8			3rd	207
2013	Moto3	KTM	QAT 2	AME 2	SPA 1	FRA 1	ITA 3	CAT 3	NED 2	GER 3	IND 3	CZE 2	GBR 4	RSM 2	ARA 2	MAL 5	AUS 2	JPN 2	VAL 1			1st	323
2014	Moto2	Kalex	QAT 4	AME 1	ARG Ret	SPA 5	FRA 4	ITA 9	CAT 2	NED 2	GER 5	IND 2	CZE 6	GBR 3	RSM 4	ARA 1	JPN 2	AUS 1	MAL 1	VAL Ret		3rd	274
2015	MotoGP	Suzuki	QAT 14	AME 9	ARG 10	SPA 11	FRA 9	ITA 7	CAT 6	NED 10	GER 11	IND 11	CZE Ret	GBR 11	RSM 14	ARA 11	JPN Ret	AUS 6	MAL 8	VAL 11		12th	97
2016	MotoGP	Suzuki	QAT 6	ARG Ret	AME 4	SPA 6	FRA 3	ITA 6	CAT 4	NED 9	GER 12	AUT 6	CZE 9	GBR 1	RSM 5	ARA 4	JPN 3	AUS 3	MAL 6	VAL 5		4th	202
2017	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT 1	ARG 1	AME Ret	SPA 6	FRA 1	ITA 2	CAT 10	NED Ret	GER 4	CZE 3	AUT 6	GBR 2	RSM 4	ARA 4	JPN 9	AUS 3	MAL 9	VAL 12		3rd	230
2018	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT 6	ARG 5	AME 2	SPA 7	FRA 7	ITA 8	CAT 6	NED 3	GER 3	CZE Ret	AUT 12	GBR C	RSM 5	ARA 10	THA 3	JPN 7	AUS 1	MAL 4	VAL Ret	4th	193
2019	MotoGP	Yamaha	QAT 7	ARG Ret	AME 11	SPA 3	FRA Ret	ITA 6	CAT Ret	NED 1	GER 2	CZE 10	AUT 5	GBR 3	RSM 3	ARA 4	THA 3	JPN 4	AUS Ret	MAL 1	VAL 6	3rd	211
2020	MotoGP	Yamaha	SPA 2	ANC 2	CZE 14	AUT 10	STY	RSM	EMI	CAT	FRA	ARA	TER	EUR	VAL	POR						3rd*	48*

^* Season still in progress.

References

1. "Campeonato de España de Velocidad, Circuito de Jerez – 7ª Prueba: Clasificación Final" (PDF). CEV Buckler. Dorna Sports. 21 November 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
2. Beer, Matt (10 November 2013). "Maverick Vinales wins Moto3 title at final corner". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
3. "Viñales wins race and title at Valencia". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
4. Lieback, Ron (5 November 2015). "2015 MotoGP Rookie of the Year – Maverick Vinales". Ultimate Motorcycling. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
5. "SuperMartxé VIP by Paris Hilton Racing Team" (PDF). SuperMartXé. Piensa en Verde Agency. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
6. "Campeonato de España de Velocidad, Circuito de Jerez – 125GP: Clasificacion oficial de carrera" (PDF). CEV Buckler. Dorna Sports. 7 June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
7. "Spanish success in European Championship with victories for Viñales, Barragán and Morales". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 24 October 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
8. "Paris Hilton to launch 125cc team". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
9. "Valencia Test unleashes new 125cc crop". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
10. Margaria, Alice (1 May 2011). "Terol walks to Estoril win". GPone. Buffer Overflow srl. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
11. Cambio, Tom (15 May 2011). "Viñales snatches his first 125GP win from Terol". Motor Cycle News. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
12. "Viñales snatches stunning maiden win from Terol in Le Mans". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
13. "Precocious talent Viñales comes to the fore". motogp.com. Dorna Sports. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
14. "Maverick Vinales In Shock Decision To Leave Team With Three Races To Go | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks". motomatters.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
15. "Press Release: Vinales Issues Formal Apology Over Sepang Withdrawal | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks". motomatters.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
16. "Maverick Vinales Signs To Ride KTM With JHK Laglisse For 2013 | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks". motomatters.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
17. "Salom, Vinales sign two-year Pons deals". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
18. "Vinales takes control for maiden Moto2 win". Crash.net. Crash Media Group. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
19. "Suzuki return to MotoGP with Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales in 2015". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
20. Ltd., Crash Media Group. "Official: Maverick Vinales signs for Yamaha | MotoGP News". Retrieved 24 January 2017.
21. Valentin Khorounzhiy (24 January 2018). "Maverick Vinales signs new Yamaha MotoGP deal". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
22. Matthew Clayton (28 October 2018). "Vinales ends Yamaha's record winless streak in Philip Island MotoGP". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
23. Jamie Klein (16 November 2018). "Maverick Vinales to change race number for 2019 MotoGP season". Autosport.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
24. "A new Viñales in 2019: "I always used 12 as a kid"". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
25. Manuel Pecino (2 November 2018). "Maverick Viñales Is MotoGP's Man In The Mirror". Cycleworld.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
26. "Maverick Vinales: Top Gun by name, top rider by nature". gantdaily.com. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2020.

External links

• Official website
• Profile on motogp.com

Sporting positions
Preceded by Alberto Moncayo	CEV Buckler 125GP Champion 2010	Succeeded by Alex Rins
Preceded by Marcel Schrötter	European 125cc Champion 2010	Succeeded by Romano Fenati
Preceded by Sandro Cortese	Moto3 World Champion 2013	Succeeded by Álex Márquez