Maverick Vinales has ‘a problem’ at KTM Tech3 after comparing Sepang Test to Pedro Acosta

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Maverick Vinales has started a new chapter in his MotoGP career in 2025 after joining Tech3 as a factory KTM rider, but the Sepang Test has highlighted a major ‘problem’.

The 30-year-old has graced a premier class grid since the 2015 season when Suzuki gifted Vinales his path to MotoGP. Since then, the Spaniard has shuffled around the paddock, with spells at the factory Yamaha team from 2017 to 2021 and the works Aprilia team until 2024.

While he may not be riding for a factory MotoGP crew for the first time in the Figueres-born star’s premier class career this term, Vinales remains a factory rider after signing a two-year contract with KTM to join Tech3. Enea Bastianini is also on a factory KTM contract for Tech3.

Tech3 star Maverick Vinales has a ‘problem’ braking on a KTM compared to Pedro Acosta

Vinales had his first ride on a KTM bike at the post-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Tech3 in November. He was, however, three and two-tenths of a second per lap slower at the home of the Catalan Grand Prix than KTM’s Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta.

His ‘problems’ have even continued at the Sepang Test at the home of the Malaysian Grand Prix this week. Vinales admits he still does not understand how to maximise the Tech3 ace’s new KTM bike under braking, with Acosta and Binder able to take the RC16 to higher limits.

READ MORE: Everything to know about KTM Tech3 including the MotoGP team’s riders

Having spent the last 10 years riding Suzuki, Yamaha and Aprilia bikes, Vinales is now having to re-learn how to brake on a MotoGP bike to understand how Acosta and Binder are strong with KTM’s package. The RC16 demands a very different braking style to how Vinales stops.

“I have problems braking compared to Brad and Pedro,” Vinales conceded, via Todo Circuito. “I still don’t understand what is the best way to get the most out of the brake. It’s a different style to what I was used to.

“I have always tried to attack the corners straight, using all the grip from the front end. But the KTM is completely different. You spend a lot of time in the cross-section, and I need to get used to that.”

Maverick Vinales was the third-fastest KTM rider on all three days of the Sepang Test

Despite Vinales believing he has ‘problems’ with KTM’s RC16, he was only 0.156s slower on Day 1 of the Sepang Test than Acosta as the fastest of the Austrian outfit’s four riders. But it would not last as Acosta opened a 0.719s margin on Day 2 and ended Day 3 0.690s quicker.

READ MORE: Every MotoGP team’s confirmed 2025 rider line-up and contract details

Binder was also faster than Vinales on all three days of the Sepang Test with gaps of 0.045s, 0.392s and 0.251s. Yet the Spaniard can at least take some comfort in that he was faster on all three days than Bastianini, as the Italian adapts to a KTM after four years riding a Ducati.

Vinales also now needs to put into good use his four days on the KTM RC16 across the post-season Barcelona Test and the Sepang Test when pre-season continues at the Buriram Test. He must start to understand how to brake on a KTM before the Thai Grand Prix on March 2.