The first podium of the year was within Maverick Viñales’ reach at the Portuguese GP. Only a breakdown in the Aprilia RS-GP caused the rider to retire from the main race in Portimão, after winning the Sprint race. According to Max Biaggi, the double victory could have been possible.
The former rider and current Aprilia ambassador told Sky Sport 24 that the Noale manufacturer started the season on a high note: ‘We missed completing the team because [Aleix] Espargaró started well in Qatar and Viñales in Portugal. But we showed very good things because Espargaró’s podiums in Losail and Maverick’s in Portimão [in the Sprint race] are two good signs of competitiveness. There was this unwanted zero for Viñales in the long race last weekend due to a technical problem, and that is a bit worrying’.
Throughout most of the race, Viñales dealt with gearbox issues, particularly in shifting from fifth to sixth gear. Despite the difficulties, he managed to keep a good pace and remained in second place for a long time, until very close to the end, when the breakdown caused him to crash and retire.
In a context of technical normality, Biaggi believes that Viñales could have challenged for victory in Portimão: ‘We hope to solve the problem quickly to also restore the morale of the rider, who had a superb weekend. They told us it was a gearbox problem; we don’t specifically know what it was. If he hadn’t had it, he could have even fought for the win because he was penalized from the start’.