Maverick Viñales (Team Suzuki Ecstar) took an impressive rostrum finish at the Australian GP, fighting his way through the pack to get into podium contention – and then overcoming teammate Aleix Espargaro and Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso. Starting from P13 on the grid after getting stuck in Q1 in Saturday’s difficult conditions, Viñales started steadily before picking his way through those ahead of him to cross the line safely clear of Dovizioso in fourth.
Maverick Viñales (P3): “The battle was strong today. In the first laps I wasn’t feeling very confident with the front and it was difficult to believe in the front tyre, but once I did I started to move forward. On one lap I overtook two riders and that was great, but then I realized I could get on the podium and I was battling with Dovizioso and Aleix. After the disaster in the pitlane yesterday it’s really good to get 16 points.
“After the second lap I knew the tyre was ok so I just tried to overtake and open the gas as smoothly as I could, to be strong at the end of the race.”