Marco Bezzecchi
Maverick Vinales had a very interrupted second half of 2025 after originally showing a lot of promise for Tech3.
The French outfit should have him back at full fitness when the new season begins, and KTM will be hoping for that outcome, too.
Vinales saw the chequered flag in just two races after the summer break, failing to finish higher than 13th, which showed how off the boil he was.
He now needs another good year to prove to potential suitors within the MotoGP rider market that he deserves a ride for the new regulations in 2027.
Which three riders are under the most PRESSURE heading into 2026? 🥵
Vinales has urged KTM to fix their rear sliding and thinks that the problem is the reason why Brad Binder struggled so much over the last 12 months.
Binder was ‘very close’ to losing his KTM seat in a move which would have seen him swap with Vinales for the upcoming campaign, before the Spaniard got hurt.
READ MORE: ‘Discombobulated’ Pedro Acosta is taking action after what he’s seen KTM give one teammate
Jorge Lorenzo wants Maverick Vinales to be KTM’s ‘lead rider’ in 2026
Jorge Lorenzo is in awe of KTM’s ‘absolute winning mentality’ after taking a tour of their factory. The three-time champion knows a thing or two about the subject.
He’ll be Vinales’ mentor from now on, which could be an important step. Having someone to strengthen his mental state and give advice on track will be crucial.
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Perhaps he’d have avoided returning to MotoGP too soon if he had been able to consult someone like Lorenzo a few months ago. It seemed to set him back a bit.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Lorenzo has already set Vinales an incredibly optimistic goal, but one that he backs him to achieve.
“Right now, my objective is for Maverick to be KTM’s lead rider this year. It will be difficult, because Pedro Acosta is very good and has been working extremely hard for many years. But in terms of speed and talent, Maverick is better; he has more than him.”
READ MORE: Richard Coleman says KTM won’t ‘force’ riders on Tech3 after Brad Binder links
What will happen to Maverick Vinales if he does beat Pedro Acosta in 2026?
Vinales has a lot more experience than Acosta, so one would expect at some races, he should be able to come out on top.
But in terms of raw speed, the 21-year-old has shown just how much he has this year, and it’s hard to see Vinales, coming off the back of a significant injury, managing to beat him overall.
In a contract year, it wouldn’t do Acosta’s hopes of securing a race-winning bike for 2027 any good, but it might do well for his rival.
Vinales could find himself back in a position to earn a factory seat, most likely with KTM, giving him a much better chance of winning in the future. He has a lot to fight for.
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