The inability of the Aprilia bikes to mitigate the effects of generated heat caused many difficulties for their riders in the MotoGP Thailand GP. One of those who felt it the most was Maverick Viñales, who had to retire from the race.
The Spaniard explained to the press that the issue worsened with the 2023 bike, and in Buriram, he reached the physical limit and had to retire: ‘Honestly the problemas are from the last year, but as Aleix and myself are on a really good physical condition, we cover it. But this year honestly, with the new bike, is worse, and it was impossible. We said in India they had to solve otherwise we cannot finish the race and I didn’t finish the race in Thailand – it was impossible from my side, honestly. So I hope they bring something, otherwise here will be retired again. So, we’ll see. It’s though’.
Asked if he had ever retired from a race due to phyisical reasons, Viñales said that it was a first in his career: ‘Not in my life, not even in a mountain bike race. I never retired – I race with injuries, with a lot of injuries, and I never retired. For me it was very though to retire, but I missed the braking three times and I said: «OK, Maverick, stop, it makes no sense, we have to stop». I was exhausted, honestly. When I went out of the bike my heart rate was 200, I was really bad’.