Marco Bezzecchi
Maverick Vinales concedes the KTM Tech3 rider is trying to avoid discussing one issue as he continues to adapt to the RC16 ahead of this week’s Grand Prix of the Americas.
The 30-year-old has not enjoyed a great start to his time in the KTM Factory Racing ranks so far since Vinales joined Tech3 from the works Aprilia outfit. After his first two rounds aboard an RC16, the Figueres native has only scored four points to also rank as the worst KTM rider.
While works pair Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta lead the way for KTM with 19 and 13 points for seventh and 10th place in the riders’ standings, Vinales is down in just 17th place. Tech3 teammate and fellow KTM newbie Enea Bastianini ranks in 14th place with seven points yet.
Maverick Vinales admits KTM’s chances of winning MotoGP races ‘aren’t looking good’
Vinales struggled on his KTM Tech3 debut in Thailand after opting to use the hard front tyre, finishing in only 16th place while Bastianini came ninth after fitting a soft tyre. The Spaniard improved in Argentina to get 12th as the Italian took P17 after contact with Raul Fernandez.
One reason behind his progress at Termas after finishing the Sprint in 18th was that Vinales changed his position on the KTM Tech3 bike in Argentina. While it is not a position he liked, the change let the 10-time MotoGP Grand Prix winner maintain a stronger sustained speed.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Maverick Vinales from career stats to net worth
It is far from the finishing touch, though, as Vinales admits he and the KTM RC16 are still too far away from contending for race wins. So much so that Vinales is keen to avoid focusing on the unlikelihood of any KTM rider winning the brand’s first race since the 2022 Thailand GP.
“It’s been a long time since KTM have won a race,” Vinales has conceded, via Speedweek. “It would be nice but things aren’t looking good at the moment. I don’t want to focus too much on that goal because then I’ll get frustrated.”
Maverick Vinales won the Sprint and Americas Grand Prix from pole for Aprilia in 2024
The prospect of KTM winning MotoGP races again is a point of focus this week especially for Vinales as he won the Americas GP last year for Aprilia. It was the only win for a non-Ducati rider in 2024 and Vinales also did the COTA double by winning the Sprint from pole position.
READ MORE: Everything to know about KTM Tech3 including the MotoGP team’s riders
Miguel Oliveira is the last rider to win a MotoGP race for KTM with his victory for the factory squad at the 2022 Thai GP. The current Pramac Yamaha rider even won the 2022 Indonesian Grand Prix. KTM ace Binder last won a MotoGP race at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix, as well.
Tech3 star Bastianini is the KTM rider who won a MotoGP race most recently with his victory for Ducati at the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. He also won last term’s British Grand Prix with the Bologna Bullets before being replaced by Marc Marquez and then moving to Tech3.
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