Maverick Viñales is currently in the spotlight in MotoGP after winning and shining at the Americas GP two weeks ago. Aleix Espargaró was asked if his teammate could be a title contender, but clarified that it is necessary to stay calm and that #12, like all eight top riders in the standings, are in the title race.
Asked about the atmosphere in the team after Maverick Viñales’ victory, Espargaró said: ‘Like before. We have the best atmosphere in the paddock. We still don’t have the best bike, but we are very, very close, but the team atmosphere was fantastic before the victory and continues to be fantastic now. Maybe Maverick is more relaxed because he had been looking for this victory for a long time and finally got it, he deserves it and I am happy for him and obviously for the team because it hasn’t been easy for them in recent years’.
Regarding whether this track, which both riders know very well, suits him more than his teammate or not, the #41 bike replied: ‘For sure Austin and Portimão are two of the most difficult tracks for me, so Jerez, no excuses, is a circuit where I have been very fast usually and the Aprilia is very good here. We got a podium three years ago and the pole position last year, so I am fighting for the top and hope we can have a good race here and Maverick will also be strong because the bike is working, so no problem’.
Dada la forma en que Viñales está corriendo, Espargaró fue cuestionado si su compañero de equipo es un verdadero candidato al título, pero en cambio respondió pidiendo calma: ‘Tenemos que darle más tiempo, él tiene crédito, ha sido muy, muy rápido en América y también ganó con Yamaha allí, así que tenemos que darle más tiempo, es como dijimos hoy: “Maverick puede ganar el título y Pecco [Bagnaia] ya no puede”… solo son tres carreras y todavía queda un largo camino por recorrer. Por supuesto que él es un candidato, pero los ocho primeros están muy apretados en términos de puntos, por lo que todos los que están entre los ocho primeros pueden ser candidatos, al 100%.’
