Marco Bezzecchi
Maverick Vinales is eyeing Pedro Acosta’s status as the lead rider at the KTM stable this season, and staff inside the Austrian constructor have already made a bold prediction about their upcoming match-up.
Despite bikes not even touching the tarmac at MotoGP’s 2026 season-opener, the contest between Maverick Vinales and Pedro Acosta has begun.
Top Gun has reportedly been given the green light to replace Acosta at the factory team in 2027, following reports that the Murcian has finalised an agreement to ride for Ducati that year.
The move comes after a full winter of tough training for the 31-year-old, who has enlisted the help of three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo to take him to the very next level.
Predict the order of the KTM riders in the 2026 MotoGP standings
KTM are expecting Maverick Vinales to win a race before Pedro Acosta in the upcoming MotoGP season
During a recent episode of the Paddock Pass podcast, MotoGP journalist Neil Morrison shared the sentiments from inside the KTM garages regarding Vinales’ rivalry with Acosta in the upcoming season.
He said, “I was speaking to someone over the weekend who knows people in KTM, and there were comments that a few people in KTM are expecting Maverick to win a race before Pedro this year, which I thought was quite interesting.”
With the chances of Top Gun securing the title in 2026 on sub-optimal KTM machinery being a long shot, Lorenzo has set Vinales the goal of surpassing Acosta at the Austrian constructor in the MotoGP standings this year.
The extra incentive for the Spaniard has reportedly affected his relationship with his younger stable-mate.
There is now added ‘tension’ between Acosta and Vinales due to Lorenzo raising the stakes, and the former Yamaha star saw it first-hand during the Sepang test that occurred last week.
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‘No one understands’ why Jorge Lorenzo is Maverick Vinales’ performance coach
While the early signs of the partnership between Lorenzo and Vinales are encouraging, it’s also been suggested that figures within the premier class paddock aren’t optimistic about them being able to keep up formalities for long.
MotoGP journalist Mela Chercoles revealed that people are reportedly taking bets on how long Lorenzo will remain Vinales’ performance coach, saying on the Motociclismo podcast, “Jorge Lorenzo is my friend. I’m very fond of him, and I think he’s one of the best riders in history.
“He’s in the top 10 of the best ever. And Maverick Vinales, I also have a good relationship with him. I love this version of Maverick.
“But almost no one understands this union, they are two very special characters, and bets are being made on how long they will last.”
Vinales previously explained his reasoning behind why he enlisted the help of Lorenzo’s expertise, highlighting that he truly believes that the three-time premier class title-winner will unlock an “extra tenth” from within him.
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