Maverick Viñales

Maverick Viñales

Date of Birth: 12/01/1995 Birthplace: Figueres Hometown: Roses, Girona Years as Repsol rider: 1

Honours

First Grand Prix: 2011 Qatar (125cc.)
First Podium: 2011 France (125cc.)
Firts Win: 2011 France (125cc.)
Total Grand Prix: 33 (17 in 125cc. and 16 in Moto3)
Fatest Laps: 4 (3 in 125cc. and 1 in Moto3)
Poles: 8 (3 in 125cc., 5 in Moto3)
Podiums: 16 (9 in 125cc. and 7 in Moto3)
Wins: 9 (4 in 125cc. and 5 in Moto3)

Sporting career

Biography

Named after the character Pete “Maverick” Mitchell -played by Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun’- Maverick Viñales has had a start to his career worthy of the silver screen. Born in Figueres, the young rider resides in the small town of Roses on the Spanish Costa Brava and has grown up as a shy adolescent with clear ideas about his future. His ambitions are to succeed in the world of motorcycle racing, without leaving behind his studies; he aims to study law at university.

Maverick’s passion for two wheels stretches back to when he was just 3 years old, when his father first put him on a pocket bike. From then, the youngster could be found on the motocross tracks, before he moved up to road bikes when his cousin bought him his first machine.

Honours didn’t take long in coming. The runner-up prize in the Catalan 50cc championship kick-started regional and national success in 50cc and 70cc competitions. In 2007, onboard an Aprilia, Maverick began to stand out in the Catalan Championship’s PreGP 125 class, going on to take two consecutive titles, plus the 2007 runner-up spot and the 2008 Trofeo Mediterráneo.

Looking up to Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa, Maverick has always had a hunger for more success. He debuted in the Spanish national championship (CEV) and finished second overall in 2009, achieving something that not even Pedrosa or Marc Márquez were able to do. The only thing that could stop him from World Championship glory was a rule preventing under-16s from competing, thus he had to settle for the Spanish 125GP and European 125GP titles whilst he waited.

In March of 2011, in Qatar, it was finally time for the Spanish talent to make his Grand Prix debut. It was a dream year for the World Championship newcomer, pitting his skills in a new class on new tracks against experienced riders. He took it all in his stride and claimed a first podium at Le Mans –with a win. From then on Maverick recorded one of the best ever rookie years in 125cc. Four victories and five additional podiums –two second places and three third places- gave him the Rookie of the Year prize and third position in the overall standings.

The Repsol rider is one of the championship favourites in his sophomore season. He will be turning his attention to the new Moto3 class in order to continue his upward trajectory.