Moto3 in the 2012 season with Maverick Viñales ahead of Sandro Cortese (both KTM), who both achieved five wins at the time, but thanks to his consistency towards the end of the season, the German was ahead in the title fight – until a scandal shook the public.

Forgotten by many – the unsporting thing about Viñales in autumn 2012

When it was the third to last round, Sandro Cortese led the world championship with 255 points. With 199 points behind, Maverick Viñales and Luis Salom on the Kalex KTM had 194 on their account. There were still 75 points to be awarded, and the two Spaniards still had a chance, if only a theoretical one, of the title. But one of the two did not even start and not only disappointed his team, but also astonished the entire motorsport world with his behaviour. The Catalan had already extended his contract with Blusens Aprilia for the following season and suddenly went completely crazy. Maverick claimed at the time that his team was not fully behind him, and under these circumstances he saw no point in fighting on. We remember it well, and we certainly weren’t the only ones shaking our heads at such unsportsmanlike conduct. He gave up the fight for the world championship at the age of 17 and then drove the last two laps at Phillip Island and Valencia, but changed teams for the following season.

As the events match – nine years later, Maverick goes nuts again

In the meantime, it has leaked out that Yamaha will forego the services of the Spaniard for the Austrian Grand Prix and will dispense him from the race. The reasons for this lie in an incredibly unsporting behaviour, about which it was only officially announced that Maverick had “improperly treated” his Yamaha. As we made clear immediately after publication, this can only mean one thing. Because the transmission works electronically, the frustrated Viñales must have mercilessly over-revved the engine of his Yamaha several times, as he would not have been able to damage the transmission by himself. This is not possible in idle, but by deliberately downshifting into a gear that is too small. No team wants such a driver in their ranks. These are the thoughts that those responsible for Aprilia may have had when they got wind of it. This means that the future of the man with the two faces in MotoGP hangs by a thread. The contract with Yamaha was terminated prematurely at the end of the season, allegedly by mutual agreement, as the official statement read.

Eighth August 2021 in Spielberg with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) in front of the Monster Energy Duo Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Viñales – this was very likely the last race in which the latter competed on the Yamaha. It is very unlikely that the Catalan will be able to climb to the M1 again in the future.

Self-destruction – final act

In a country in which even well-educated young people have been looking for a job for years without success, Maverick’s behaviour is even more incomprehensible. Spain not only suffered the most from the corona pandemic, but of course also from the economic consequences of enormous losses in tourism. Against this background, the behaviour of this obviously far too well paid young man borders on brainlessness and also testifies to an unbelievable arrogance and ignorance. It is clear and more than understandable that his previous employer, Yamaha, cannot offer such unsportsmanlike conduct. After Andrea Iannone, who was banned for years due to a doping offence, a second MotoGP rider apparently destroyed his career permanently. While the former presented himself as a victim, at least the man from Figueres doesn’t even have to try. At the moment, it is not even clear whether he will be punished by the FIM for his unsportsmanlike conduct, which could possibly result in a suspension. At least his future is now completely open and it is unclear whether he will ever return to the paddock.

Maverick Viñales a little over a year ago in Jerez de la Frontera – with a facial expression that perfectly matches the current situation. Decried as a MotoGP surprise bag for years, he may soon have to leave the stage as a bad boy through the back entrance.

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