Viñales: “I've always been very strong in Austin”

When Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) crossed the line to win the Argentina GP, he also became the first Yamaha rider since Wayne Rainey in 1990 to win the first two races of the season – and joined key rival Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) as the only two riders to win the first two races of the year in the MotoGP™ era. Now the next target is the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX.

Viñales, who won his rookie and only Moto2™ appearance at the track in 2014, took a top four last year as one of his standout rides of the season - so the form is most definitely there. But COTA is Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) territory, and the rider from Roses will have to defeat the as-yet undefeated number 93 if he is to make it three in a row.

If Viñales wins in Austin he will become the fifth youngest rider to win three successive premier class grand prix races, after Marc Marquez, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi. He would also be the youngest ever rider to win three successive races on a Yamaha!

Maverick Viñales: “The next round is Austin and I'm happy because I won my first race there in Moto2, I've always been very strong here. I also did one of my best results in America the last year, so I think it‘s a good track for my riding style. I love the up and down track, with lots of elevation, so I'm so excited to see how my M1 will work here and how I'm going to feel riding the Yamaha. I'm confident and I know that I can do another good race weekend.”