Maverick Vinales has often seen his MotoGP victory chances thwarted by a ꦇpoor⛦ race start.

But the Spaniard made a perfect getaway in Sunday's i✃naugural Virtual Race, a six-lap online sprint around Mugello featuring ten premier-class riders, arranged 🙈to help fill the void in real racing.

Vinales shot from third to first off the line, before eventual race winner Alex Marquez and pole starter Fabio Quart൲araro lunged inside at Turn 1.

The #12 looked to have played it safe around the outside, only to be taken out by his 2021 factory Yamaha team-mate Quartararo when the young Frenchman lost the front of his Petಌ🐷ronas bike while attacking Marquez.

"It's the first time I started well in my lဣife!" Vinales joked. "Then I had the cras♎h at the first corner."

"I braked a little bit late and lost the front,"🔯 admitted Quartararo. "I made Maverick crash꧂, but it’s just a game!"

Indeed, with only virtual scratches and bruises, both swiftly agreed they were "st🌄ill frien⭕ds".

Vinales recovered to third place and a digital podiu🔯m, with Quartararo (who set the fastest🎶 lap of the race) in fourth.

"It was difficult to fight back but we🍌 had a good rhythm," said Vinales. "I'm happy to be on the podium."

MotoGP Virtual Race 2💞 with a to-be-confirmed rider line-up is to be broadcast on Sunday, April 12.

The start of the real rac✱ing season is not expected until at least June.

MotoGP Virtual Race 1 – Mugello Results:

1. Alex Marquez, 6 Laps, 10m 38.643s

2. Francesco Bagnaia, +7.093s

3. Maverick Vinales, +8.496s

4. Fabio Quartararo, +9.968s

5. Marc Marquez, +14.416s

6. Alex Rins, +19.548s

7. Joan Mir, +23.247s

8. Miguel Oliveira, +29.702s

9. Iker Lecuona, NC

10. Aleix Espargaro, NC