1. Maverick Vinales (Moto3)
This weekend will go down as the making of Maverick Vinales. The Spanish teenager made a stunning impression on the Grand Prix scene by winning his fourth 125cc race but under overwhelming pressure from national media to deliver on his potential, an emotional frailty has emerged which threatened to derail his career. But twelve months after walking out on his team due to an uncompetitive motorcycle, Vinales displayed impeccable maturity and coolness in the most pressurised situation imaginable to become Moto3 world champion.
When Luis Salom crashed out of the leading group ten laps from the finish, only Alex Rins stood between Vinales and the title but the Estrella Galicia rider had beaten Maverick in final-lap shootouts three times since the summer. Rins looked set to do it again when he outdragged Vinales into turn one but Maverick showed the steeliness many thought he lacked by diving back through at turn two before hanging on around the outside of three.
With everything on the line, Rins was always going to send his KTM up the inside of the final corner but Vinales was ready for the attack and ducked underneath the no.42 to enter the home straight ahead. Not even Alex could come back from that and the race victory went to Maverick, along with the world title. Even Maverick struggled to believe what he had achieved when he crossed the finish line but this was a moment where he could be forgiven for letting his emotions get the better of him. With the eyes of the world watching him the eighteen year old had held his nerve and the championship, deservedly, was his.
(Photo Credit: MotoGP.com)
