Jorge Lorenzo responds to ‘rumours’ that he could start coaching Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales

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Maverick Vinales has been almost non-existent in the second half of the MotoGP season as he tries to recover from a broken shoulder.

He sustained the injury in qualifying at the German Grand Prix, after a spectacular highside that he could do little to save himself from. Vinales missed four races before returning at Catalunya, but three events later, he has pulled out of two more to focus on his recovery.

It’s particularly disappointing for Tech3, who were just starting to get him at his very best. He was stripped of a podium at Qatar for a tyre pressure infringement, but finished in the top five on two other occasions. He was the first KTM rider to really understand and find a way to be quick in 2025.

KTM’s attention to Vinales ‘discombobulated’ Pedro Acosta earlier in the campaign, and he has had to remind them of his own results. Guenther Steiner will keep Vinales for 2026, even after completing a takeover of Tech3. He’s happy with both of the team’s current riders for now.

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Jorge Lorenzo refuses to confirm whether he could start coaching Maverick Vinales

Missing the next two races in Australia and Malaysia means that Vinales could return for Portugal and Valencia to round the season off, but it might not be the brightest idea. If he’s struggling with his injury, he’ll need to focus on his recovery.

Vinales was KTM’s ‘benchmark’ in 2025, and they’ll want him to be back to a similar level of form in 2026. By resting up for the remainder of the season, he’ll hopefully come back fresh in January, ready to tackle the final year of the current regulation cycle.

There have been ‘rumours’ that he could partner up with an ex-rival in a bid to extract more from his riding. Three-time champion Jorge Lorenzo makes regular visits to the MotoGP paddock and has clarified whether there is any possibility of a link-up.

“The rumours are impossible,” he said. “It is impossible to stop the rumours. [Maverick] is one of the things we are talking about. I always say that until everything is confirmed, nothing exists. So, let’s say [that].”

There has been a bit of a rise in rider coaching recently, after Casey Stoner was seen in the Ducati garage helping Francesco Bagnaia. At the next race, the Italian dominated in Japan, before crashing back down to earth in Indonesia.

READ MORE: Pedro Acosta thinks it is ‘clear’ KTM cannot rely on what Maverick Vinales has just said about their MotoGP bike

Why the extent of Maverick Vinales’ injury will have been a surprise

Vinales only returned to action in the first place because he will have felt that he could push through whatever pain was left.

After all, this is the first major injury of his career, 10 seasons in. Sadly, that has not turned out to be the case, and it looks like Pol Espargaro could replace him once more.

Sadly, he’s now nailed on for his worst finish in the championship. He came 12th in his rookie season and is 16th this year, with a maximum of two races to go.

It would be silly to overlook KTM’s struggles, but at the same time, Vinales might have been a regular podium contender had he not been so unfortunate in Germany.