Maverick Viñales and Pedro Acosta wrote their names into the history books at COTA on Sunday.
Viñales became only the fourth rider to win premier-class grands prix on three different makes of machinery in the 76 seasons of world championship racing, so not a record, but certainly historic, while Acosta became the youngest rider to score back-to-back premier-class podiums.
The 19-year-old genius very nearly became the youngest rider to lead a MotoGP/500cc GP as well, but missed that accolade by a few months. Randy Mamola still holds that honour. At Le Mans in 1979 the 19-year-old American took the lead of the French GP from none other than ‘King’ Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene, after running with them in the first laps.
