CEV at Jerez: Oliveira takes 4th win of the season, but Viñales takes the title

Miguel Oliveira did everything he could to still have a shot at the 125cc crown in the Spanish Championship and ran away with another dominant victory, the fourth in seven races, crossing the finish line at Jerez over 11 seconds clear from of the rest of the field. But his crash at Albacete earlier in the season meant that the man finishing second yesterday, Spaniard Maverick Viñales, took the title from him with only two points advantage.
Viñales started from sixth position on the grid, but quickly worked his way up the ranks into second place. The only rider who could have still spoiled his dream of clinching his first national title was Niklas Ajo, son of Aki Ajo, who kept close to him in third place until the final stages of the races when he started to drop back.
Alex Rins, who took third place in the championship, finished the race in fourth place.

The next CEV season starts on 17th April 2011, back in Jerez.

Miguel Oliveira: In the race we achieved our goal which was the victory, to still be able to fight for the title. I saw that the gap behind me increased and when it was up to 11 seconds I concentrated on maintaining that gap and not risking too much. I really think that, even though I wasn’t able to win the championship, we had an incredible season. The team showed that they know how to win and that they know how to lose, it is a team with a lot of fighting spirit and I owe this all to them, they have given me everything I needed to fight for the maximum. I would like to stay with this team next season and move up to the world championship, I believe the team also wants to keep me and I hope we will reach an agreement soon.
And to the sponsors I’d like to give my Thanks. Most of all this here only works, because they support us and give us the opportunity to be here. Also I want to thank my family and friends who’ve come here for the last race to support me and, even though I didn’t win the title, they’ve seen me win a race which I think is a great result.
Last but not least I’d like to congratulate Viñales. He has been a very fast and very constant rider, he has worked a lot, just like his team, and I believe that he truly deserves this title. With a rival like him, the runner-up spot feels like a victory.”

Maverick Viñales: “I am very happy about the title and I’d like to thank my team and everyone for their work and support. I started the race with the aim to win or get second and I achieved that. In the morning when I saw it was dry I was overjoyed and I knew that I could take the title without having to risk too much. I’ve gone much slower than in the free practice on Friday and I believe that I could have fought for the victory, but the important thing today was to win the championship.”