Maverick Viñales

Maverick Viñales Ruiz (born 12 January 1995) is a Grand Prix motorcycle racer from Spain, best known for winning the 2013 Moto3 World Championship. In 2015 he won the best rookie award in the MotoGP class.

Career

Early career

Born in Figueres, Viñales began competitive racing at the age of three in minimotos before moving onto motocross and eventually to circuit racing in 2002, competing in the Catalonian 50cc Championship, before several successful seasons in 70cc "metrakit" bikes. In 2007, he became champion of the Catalonian 125cc Championship, and repeated the feat in 2008, as well as winning the Mediterranean Trophy. Also in 2008, he competed at selected events in the German IDM 125GP Championship for RZT Racing aboard a Aprilia RS 125 R, achieving a best result of seventh. He moved up to the CEV Buckler 125GP series in 2009, with the Blusens-BQR team, partnering Miguel Oliveira in the team. Viñales finished the season as Rookie of the Year as he finished as the runner-up to Alberto Moncayo in the championship standings, by just four points. Viñales claimed four successive podiums during the season, including a victory by almost four seconds at Jerez. In 2010, Viñales and Oliveira joined different teams from Blusens, and battled it out for the championship title, and despite winning two races – both at Albacete – to Oliveira's four, Viñales won the title by two points after finishing each of the season's seven races on the podium. The two riders also battled for the European Championship title at Albacete, and again was decided in the favour of Viñales.