Aprilia Racing's Maverick Viñales has been on somewhat of a dream run of late. Fourth at the Sachsenring and chasing down the podium places, before a problem with his ride-height device forced him to retire, and then back-to-back podium finishes at Assen and then Silverstone. The Spaniard appears to have finally clicked with the Aprilia RS-GP and is now showing signs that he's rediscovered the MotoGP™ form that saw him contend for the title with Yamaha.
It's a run of results that has some asking whether a fairytale first win for the Noale factory in Austria is simply written in the stars. Twelve months ago, Viñales was sacked by Yamaha after an unprecedented set of events that all unfolded at our next destination: the Red Bull Ring. The relationship had already soured and he was due to leave the Japanese brand at the end of the season, one year earlier than planned, before Viñales was found to have purposefully over-revved his Yamaha M1 in a clear attempt to blow up his own motor.
✅ Running 4th at the Sachsenring before a technical issue
— MotoGP™???? (@MotoGP) August 9, 2022
✅ 3rd and first podium with Aprilia at Assen
✅ 2nd at Silverstone
Can Maverick return to winning ways in Austria? ????#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/4rwgyvv9j4
A moment of madness that sadly stained his time with the Iwata factory and Viñales' reputation as a rider. However, one year on, that reputation has been restored all thanks to Aprilia's family feel. Striding through the paddock, it's plainly obvious to see the change in the former Moto3™ World Champion from one year previous. Exuding confidence, the sky is now the limit for Viñales as he admits himself.
"It's a dream," said Viñales on Sunday evening. "If we accomplish the objective in Austria, it's going to be a total dream because, you know, I had… ‘things’ happen there, but things can happen. But this is in the past and I'm really concentrating on the present. But I will have extra motivation, for sure."
"I believe a lot in this project. I believe a lot, and I believe a lot in myself. I always think it’s a matter of time, a matter of work. We know we have the potential to be in the front, fighting for the races, as we’ve shown in the previous events. Our focus is in ourselves. Stay at the maximum with the bike, with the track. I just keep riding, keep believing and trying to be focused on the correct things."