Let's talk MotoGP: The Maverick got lost

It’s time to take stock. Like every year for three years, Let's talk MotoGP is embarking on a fairly important undertaking: taking stock of each driver at the end of the 2024 season, today, Maverick Vinales' turn. For a good part of the winter, we will go back through the rankings in reverse, to the point of talking in detail about the world champion's campaign. Are you ready? Here we go!

Yesterday, we returned to the case ofAlex Marquez; click here to find the corresponding article.

A feat not to be underestimated

During my lifetime, I don't think I've ever understood a driver less than Maverick Vinales. This Moto3 world champion, and more broadly, this man, embodies one of the greatest enigmas in motorcycling history. Since his arrival in Grands Prix and especially his move to Yamaha at the start of 2017, Maverick has been one of the best… but rarely. The Spaniard, capable of leading, of setting a pace, is also capable of collapsing mid-race, never entering a weekend, finishing third on a Sunday, and fourteenth the following week. It's completely incomprehensiblewithout even mentioning his various outbursts which have punctuated his career from a very young age.

Maverick will remain a notable driver. Photo: Michelin Motorsport

You might think that it depends on a motorcycle, on a context.
But it's been like this since 2017 in MotoGP, and 2024 is no exception. Everything started perfectly for the “Maverick”, which no one saw coming. The Aprilia RS-GP24, formidable at the start of the season, was only enhanced by its undeniable but frustrating talent. From a tenth place in Qatar – on a circuit that he nevertheless appreciates – he found himself playing for victory in Portugal. After brilliantly winning the Sprint, a mechanical failure cost him a certain podium in the final moments of the Sunday race.

Then, in the United States, the inexplicable struck again. On the Austin circuit, which betrayed him in 2017 after an excellent start to the season,
Maverick Vinales won both races masterfully. He knew how to get rid of his opponents in a very high level match on Sunday, and we could only congratulate him. At that moment, he was third in the world championship, ready to beat Ducati and play for victory every weekend. But unfortunately, no one thought that because we know his profile only too well.

I interrupt the story of his season for a short moment to congratulate him again. This is one of Ducati's three Sprint defeats this season, and Ducati's only defeat at a Grand Prix in twenty rounds. I know for a fact that he is not so appreciated, but we must give back to Caesar what belongs to him. Vinales was huge in Austin, while the other Aprilias were not particularly successful there.

A predictable but painful fall

Top Gun, on his soil. Photo: Michelin Motorsport

Let's start again. After this resounding success, Vinales disappeared.
As so often over the course of a year. Without Aleix Espargaro to hinder him, the latter being a few months from retirement, he was not really able to establish himself as a clear leader at Aprilia. This led, inevitably, to his indirect ousting by the Noale firm, which preferred, logically and legitimately I believe, Marco Bezzecchi and/or Jorge Martin. So, he did not completely fade away, because he still recorded two other third places in Sprint, at Le Mans and at Assen, two of his best career tracks. Apart from that, the results are meager, too meager.

His end of the season – particularly his overseas tour – was completely unsuccessful, in addition to being marked by a certain bitterness towards his employer. Although the way Vinales was considered when discussing his own replacement is questionable, the Spaniard should not forget Aprilia's gesture after he was fired from Yamaha. Once again, his behavior raised questions, both in interviews and on the track. He no longer seemed to be giving his all, and claimed to no longer want to help Aprilia move forward while the brand, at the end, was struggling considerably.

The result was a seventh place in the general classification with 190 points for four blank results, and no other GP podiums after his triumph in Austin. Despite a great start to the season and a context that I would describe as favorable, it did less well than the previous year when there was an extra Sprint. Some of his results outside the top 10 (like this 13th place in Germany) cost him dearly, too dearly.

Conclusion

It's both a disappointment and at the same time not, because we all expected this kind of season. Vinales no longer embodies the hope, the enthusiasm of youth which could sometimes excuse certain behaviors. Already at 29 years old, Maverick no longer impresses, and a victory, however good it may be, will not fool anyone as to the relevance of his efforts this season.
It was Vinales all spit.

I'm curious what you thought of Maverick Vinales in 2024, so, tell me in comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.