Source: Supplied.

Spanish sensation Maverick Vinales has delivered Team Suzuki Ecstar its first podium since the factory’s return to MotoGP with a stunning third place at Le Mans.

Vinales, who is currently in the middle of a bidding war between Suzuki and Movistar Yamaha, took advantage of a crash-filled affair to record his first-career premier class podium.

It was another pivotal result for Vinales and the Suzuki squad, as the Spaniard readies to make his final decision between remaining at Suzuki in a lucrative renewal or a switch to Yamaha’s title-winning M1 in place of Ducati-bound Jorge Lorenzo.

“We finally got this so awaited podium and we are all very happy,” explained technical manager Ken Kawauchi. “It is a result that pays back all the jobs we did and are doing and is also something that gives us further hope.

“Maverick had some difficulties in finding a good feeling with his machine in previous days here at Le Mans, but finally we found some good solutions which proved to be effective in allowing him to feel confident. His pace in the race was very good, and although we took benefit from a couple of crashes ahead, we are proud because his race was wise and consistent.

“This is what we were aiming for. We are working hard, this is a good reward, and I believe that if we continue to work hard we could soon aim for the victory.”

Vinales overcame set-up issues during the early stages of the weekend to put himself in podium contention by the latter stages of the race, resulting in Suzuki’s first podium since Loris Capirossi at Brno in 2008.

“Le Mans must be my lucky track because here I hit my first victory in the World Championship in 2011 and today I got the first podium in MotoGP,” Vinales said. “I like it very much and I was so sorry when I saw I could not push as hard as I wanted in previous days.

“I am very happy for this result, to be the first rider to take Suzuki back on the podium. Until yesterday I was very worried about the race, but I must thank my crew and all Suzuki’s engineers who didn’t give up and developed a solution. We are doing a very intense job and this podium is a reward for my efforts and those done by the whole crew and company.”

Ironically, Suzuki’s first and last victory of the modern MotoGP World Championship was recorded at Le Mans by Chris Vermeulen in 2007.