Maverick Vinales 'feeling good’ ahead of MotoGP return as questions loom over his future

“But I feel good power. I have good power.”

Vinales was optimistic about his prospects for 2026 heading into the new season, having felt that he had made a full recovery over the winter. However, he failed to score a single point across Thailand and Brazil as he struggled with pain, forcing him to withdraw from the US GP after Friday practice.

The Spaniard said he is now in a much better condition physically, although he admitted there are still some limitations.

Asked if this was the best he had felt physically since before the crash, he replied: “In terms of mobility, yes.

“In terms of power, I work a lot in the winter. Of course, with natural shoulder power, yes, I'm more strong.

“But on the chest and on the back, I still could not really put a lot of load. So, in that area, I'm a little bit less than in the winter. But I think for riding [the bike] it is enough.

“Now we need to see where the deficits are and work on them.”

To prepare for his return, Vinales tested a supermoto bike and could immediately tell the difference.

“Before, I always had something limiting me; going out on the bike and feeling strange. Now I feel normal, which is a good sign,” he said.

Vinales’ future with KTM

Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3

Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3

Before the start of the season, KTM had identified Vinales as a potential replacement for Ducati-bound Pedro Acosta, with the Spaniard being considered to join the factory team alongside the incoming Alex Marquez.

However, a tough start to the season and the subsequent injury layoff have changed the situation, with Motorsport.com reporting earlier this month that current VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio has agreed terms to take the seat originally earmarked for Vinales.

That means that Tech3 remains his only option to remain within the KTM stable, with the French team now likely to extend its relationship with the Austrian marque into MotoGP’s 850cc era.

Vinales stressed that it was important for him to make a full recovery as quickly as possible to continue racing for KTM next year.

“My situation is that I still have one more year on my contract. KTM has the right to renew,” he said.

“I have to wait and see. Obviously, our main target and, also from KTM’s side, is to see if I recover. Because if I don't recover, I can be the best guy in the world [and still don’t have a seat]. This is business and this is racing. But if I recover, then it's another story.“

He added: “The relationship we have is really good with KTM. I mean, especially with Aki [Ajo].

“They know clearly what I can do. They see that on the data every single day.

“But at this moment, I'm injured. I'm a racing horse, but if I'm injured, I cannot pretend to be pretty. I need to work.

“I have to recover. And then when I recover, I have the power to say ‘now’.

"But if I am like this…two weeks ago, I could not hang my arm like this. [So if it stays like this], they [will] say, ‘well, maybe we have to find another plan’.

“But this is totally normal. I totally understand. And now it's time to work, to come back, and show, as I showed them last year, that even with the bike [not performing well] you can be there.

“So this is my plan, to recover and then ride 100%.”

Read Also:

Francesco Bagnaia “feeling fast” for the first time in 18 months in MotoGP

Alberto Puig to step down as HRC team manager in 2027, take on advisory role

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.