Where will Maverick Vinales race go? That’s the big question everyone is asking. Of course, apart from further upheavals, the Spaniard has no real alternatives if he wants to stay on course in 2022. Yesterday we wrote that all the evidence led to Italy with Aprilia candidate # 1, but there is also the fascinating idea of Ducati. to go over the team of former teammate Valentino.
However, as the hours go by, this path becomes increasingly unlikely. Mainly because, as Rossi himself explained, the choice of drivers is up to VR46, contrary to what happens in Pramac, for example, when decisions are made in agreement with the parent company, which actually holds a significant position in this matter. In return, Ducati will of course take care of the contract (and thus the salary) of the drivers.
The Doctor’s Team, on the other hand, was created for the riders of the Riders Academy, as in Moto3 and Moto2 and in that sense it means completing the path that takes them from promotional championships (like CEV before and now CIV) to MotoGP. Hiring a skilled and trained driver like Maverick would mean changing your plans, not to mention someone having to find the money to pay them too …
There is also the problem of which bike. Vinales might even agree to go to a satellite team (but a prominent one given Valentino’s patronage) but would clearly want an official and updated bike. VR46 will have one, but it is meant for Luca Marini and it’s hard to imagine it being taken away from him. To solve the problem it seems easy to ask Ducati for another one, but next year in Borgo Panigale they will have the job of delivering and tracking 8 motorcycles and producing another GP22, also related to the one human and economic resources because planning at this point would be a big undertaking.
So Aprilia is put straight into the spotlight and has an opportunity that she didn’t expect. Massimo Rivola had calmed down to a certain extent for 2022, knowing full well that there were none of the so-called top drivers on the market. So, as a good manager always does, he focused on the following year, 2023. He had two names written in his notebook: Alex Rins and Franco Morbidelli. Both are smart choices because they are two young riders who already have important MotoGP experience and have already shown that they are successful in the premier class. In addition, they come from two of the best balanced bikes in the field and could provide important information for the development of the RS-GP.
But now Maverick is free and that changes everything. It means having one of the top drivers you are looking for at Noale and having them right away. Aleix Espargarò is doing an excellent job this season but his résumé, unlike Vinales, doesn’t make him the best at the World Cup. With the Veneto bike improving rapidly, it would be perfect to have endorsement from a rider like Maverick in the race.
It’s difficult for Aprilia to find cons. His salary will certainly have to be reasonable, but given recent events, it will likely be lower than it was in the past. Top Gun’s character may be a bit scary, but if he found the right setting, his edges could be smoothed out …
For Noale, Vinales would be more than a bet, a real opportunity. Like that dress you thought you couldn’t afford until you found it on sale and in your size. The only difference is that in this case it is the dress, sorry … the rider who has to decide whether it can be bought or not.