In Malaysia, this weekend, clubbing is expected. Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo rush the calendar as they seek to be the best MotoGP rider this year. In the penultimate test, the Italian and his Ducati land with an advantage in the general classification (233 points) over the Frenchman’s Yamaha (219). But everything is still open and the possibilities multiply. Maverick Viñales looks on from a background. It doesn’t go well with him. It is clear to the Empordà native that he would like to fight for the championship. It has never won it, at the maximum displacement, although a couple of times it has not been too far. Now, reality speaks a different language. It’s another story. With his Aprilia he lives all kinds of moments. Bright days, darker days. An irregularity that has accompanied him in recent seasons. In Sepang he shows up with other goals. Another chance, and he only has two left, to try to win a race. He didn’t get any this whole 2022. A strange situation, even though Viñales is not now among the favorite runners in everything. Since 2015, he has not lived a blank year in the queen category and now he’s on his way, if he doesn’t straighten the course a Malaysia (Sunday) or Valencia (November 6), to repeat it
He comes from a “bad race” in Australia, a few days ago. And that bothers him, but at the same time motivates him. He remembers that the sensations in Sepang, when it was his turn to do tests, were “good”. A positive starting point. He talks about a “tough championship” and some drivers, all together, who arrive “tired” at these last tests. He also, of course, but the ambition to vindicate itself is very present. For the team and especially for himself. It is his seventh year competing in MotoGP and only once, in his debut season, did he go without a single win. He doesn’t want to repeat it, even though it won’t be easy by any means. This 2022 has had everything. Days to forget and also good performances. He has been on the podium three times. None of them, yes, at the top. The most of June was third in the Netherlandsthe same position with which he closed the San Marino Grand Prix from last September. Things went a little better for him at the Silverstone circuit in August, when he was second. The most positive result, so far, of the course. In the queen category he has been on the podium on 31 occasions.
There were up to 40 between 2011 and 2014, when he was competing a step below MotoGP. Its beginnings, the first years. The most spectacular, with a title World Cup in your pocket. What he achieved in 2013 in Moto3. It has rained a lot since then and in 2015 he was making the jump to the top of the pyramid, to fight against the best. It has never gone out of tune and has had years of prosperity. Between 2016 and 2019 he was always third or fourth in the world. But it has never gone further. With 2020, the step back. Sixth position, before being tenth in 2021 in a year marked by disagreements with Yamaha and the change of team in the middle of the calendar. The change to Aprilia has not made him more competitive or led him to fight for everything, but it has taken away more than one headache.
This 2022, Viñales has achieved three podiums: a third place in San Marino and the Netherlands, and second place in Silverstone
Of course, winning a race is already starting to lag a little behind him. It’s been more than a year and a half since the last victory. It was in the first test of 2021, in Qatar, at the Losail circuit. On that occasion, on March 28, he completed the course ahead of everyone else, overtaking at the finish line Johann Zarco and Francesco Bagnaia, who were second and third, respectively, and would join him on the podium. Since then, the months have been chained together and he has not collected any more victories. He has 9 in MotoGP in the seven years he has been racing there. If the tenth comes soon, he can say that he closes the season with a new joy. If not, it will have to wait until 2023. A good time to check if it is again the most competitive or if, on the contrary, it continues to navigate without a fixed course, with good days and others rather dark. Which way will the wind blow this weekend?
At the moment, sixth
With unstable, irregular weather. This is how the Malaysian Grand Prix has begun. Two free practice sessions held today and a sixth place for Maverick Viñales in the second. The best lap, with a time of 2:09.353. Aquatre seconds from the first record, owned by the amazing Cal Crutchlow. Bagnaia and Àlex Márquez were second and third, respectively. They were followed by Miller and Zarco, before the motorcycle of the Empordanese. Tomorrow, the classification. And Sunday, back for the race.
