MotoGP Rider Donates Title-Winning Moto3 Bike to Valencia Flood Auction
Maverick Vinales has donated his 2013 title-winning KTM RC250GP to charity in aid of the Valencia flood victims
MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales has donated his Moto3 title-winning KTM RC250GP to charity in the wake of the mass floods that claimed the lives of over 200 people in Spain, particularly the Valencia region.
Vinales is an 11-time (10 Grand Prix and one sprint race) winner in MotoGP since joining the class with Suzuki in 2015, riding for Yamaha and Aprilia currently although this weekend marks his final weekend with the Noale-based company before he switches to KTM.
But on the eve of the 2024 finale in Barcelona, Vinales has confirmed his first world championship-winning bike has been donated to a charity auction in aid of those affected by the floods in Valencia, which was due to host the season-ending Grand Prix before it switched to the Catalan region.
“Because this is humanity,” said Vinales about why he’s donating the bike to charity. If we don't help each other, who’s going to help us?” It's [been] quite a few years that I tried not to live in a material way, so trying to live more on feelings.
“And somehow I felt, OK. Of course, I have a special feeling with this bike, because I won my title and it's always special. But these people need help. Some friends have been to Valencia trying to help, working and they say it's really, really bad. Maybe in the media we didn't see enough stuff, but they said this is really, really bad.
“So any help we can give is good. And if a fan would like to help by paying good money for this bike, I'm more than happy that this [money] will arrive to these people.”
Vinales is the only rider in MotoGP history to have won with three different brands and in 2024 he will have the opportunity to make that four with his switch to KTM.
Vinales will be paired with another star rider in Enea Bastianini, who is coming across from the factory Lenovo Ducati squad after losing his seat to eight-time world champion Marc Marquez, a decision which rattled the MotoGP world at the time as it also led to Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi deciding to leave Ducati for Aprilia in 2025.
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
