Moto3 Special 2012: Maverick Viñales

The Moto3 World Championship has, for this 2012 season, a rider who is a favorite from head to toe. After what he showed in his debut year in the Motorcycle World Championship, Maverick Viñales has jumped straight into this second year as one of the riders who will fight for the crown of the new category. The 25 has managed to amaze everyone with an incredible 2011. Without a doubt, the 125GP Spanish Champion reached the championship hungry for more, and he has shown it during a spectacular season for a rookie.

Viñales arrived in the 125cc class in 2011, after being crowned Spanish champion in 2010 and with a strong team like BQR. He had everything needed to adapt quickly to the category, the championship and his new destination, and surprisingly he not only adapted, but was fighting at the front with the top riders, giving a hard time to the big names of the class such as Nico Terol, Sandro Cortese or Héctor Faubel, among others.

The first two races were not easy given the circumstances. The first, in Qatar, was his first time in a night race, so that 9th place is perfect for starting the championship; a top 10 in your first race is not bad at all. Then at Jerez he had problems and crashed, but track conditions were quite bad due to the rain. From the Spanish Grand Prix onward, however, Viñales took control and was already fighting with the favorite riders in every race, until the great moment finally arrived: his first victory at Le Mans. In the fourth race of the year he was already on the top step of the podium with his energy drink, since he cannot toast with cava because he is under age.

But this situation was not just a one-day illusion. At the next round, the Gran Premio de Catalunya, he finished second at home, in front of his public and his fans, so another great day for our wonder kid. Then came victories at Assen, Malaysia and Valencia, plus four more podiums, so our Maverick had grown up in a moment.

After that spectacular season, now comes the turn of the new category, Moto3, where the 25 is one of the favorites for the crown. It also seems that the FTR–engine combination Honda works quite well, making Moto3 the most reliable and fastest bike, so the tandem could be very dangerous for the rest of the field. Without a doubt, 2012 could be Maverick’s year. He is prepared to do great things in the World Championship, and now that he knows all the circuits on the calendar and is getting to know his machine, the Catalan makes him one of the men to beat in the category. With Terol moving up to Moto2, the championship throne is empty, but he will not be the only one going out to fight for it. Although few riders have that “something” that Viñales has, don’t take your eyes off him, because this 2012 could be the year of the wonder kid.

Photo | BQR