Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Lorenzo has been very vocal in his support of Maverick Vinales but now states he is ‘superior’ to Pedro Acosta.
Ahead of the start of the 2026 MotoGP season, Jorge Lorenzo and Maverick Vinales joined forces in a decision that shocked the paddock.
The five-time MotoGP world champion has decided to work with Vinales as a full-time performance coach for the Tech3 rider.
During their time working together, Lorenzo has identified that Vinales needs to work on his ‘mental aspect’ as opposed to his technical details.
Jorge Lorenzo thinks Maverick Vinales will beat Pedro Acosta in 2026 👀 Who do you back to win the battle?
READ MORE: Everything to know about Maverick Vinales from career stats to net worth
Lorenzo believes people ‘confuse talent with results’
In an interview with Sport, Lorenzo made some outlandish comments as he suggested Vinales is ‘superior’ to Acosta.
Throughout the 2025 season, Vinales dealt with shoulder injuries that he sustained at the German Grand Prix. But now he is fit again, Lorenzo wants him to become the ‘best KTM’ at the end of 2026.
There is a clear target on Acosta’s back from the Vinales camp as the #12 and #99 have clear goals laid out for this season.
Lorenzo said, “Those statements were quite controversial because people confuse talent with results.
“At no point did I say that Maverick’s results have been better than Acosta’s; simply that Maverick’s talent, his ability to ride fast on a motorbike, his natural speed, is, in my opinion, very great and superior to Pedro’s. But that doesn’t mean that his results are better; that’s where we are now.
“We will try to make Maverick the best KTM at the end of the year.”
Can Jorge Lorenzo bring back the ‘killer’ in Maverick Vinales in 2026?
Jorge Lorenzo makes a bet with Pedro Acosta’s manager
Ahead of the 2026 season, Lorenzo revealed that he had made a drastic bet with Acosta’s manager, Albert Valera.
The bet includes a ‘dinner for each race to see who finishes ahead of the other’, Lorenzo has shown confidence in his former rival, Vinales as he believes he will beat Acosta across 2026.
Lorenzo also has previously commented on the ‘tension’ he witnessed between Vinales and Acosta after the three-day Sepang MotoGP test.
The Spaniard believes that there is tension between the two Spaniards as they are ‘at a similar level’ heading into the new MotoGP season.
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