Paddock ‘sources’ say Maverick Vinales’ relationship with Jorge Lorenzo has already hit a ‘bump’

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Maverick Vinales’ much-talked-about collaboration with MotoGP legend Jorge Lorenzo may not be going smoothly, based on rumours. Vinales has made his worst-ever start to a season.

Top Gun qualified 20th for the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend then crashed in the Sprint. He was the last classified finisher in Sunday’s race, over six seconds behind the next bike (Pramac’s Toprak Razgatlioglu).

Vinales also missed out on points in Thailand, where he finished 16th. Across all competitive sessions so far, his average position is 18th.

Can Jorge Lorenzo bring back the ‘killer’ in Maverick Vinales in 2026?

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Jorge Lorenzo and Maverick Vinales relationship may already be strained

Vinales has hired three-time MotoGP champion and former rival Lorenzo as his rider coach, but doesn’t appear to be feeling any benefit. In fact, the 31-year-old’s form has dropped off sharply compared to last season (accounting for the period when he was fully fit).

‘Several sources’ have told Spanish publication SPORT that the link-up is ‘going through a bump’. Vinales was repeatedly questioned on Lorenzo’s absence from his garage in Brazil.

• READ MORE: Maverick Vinales once called out Jorge Lorenzo for riding like a ‘rookie’ instead of a champion

The Tech3 rider indicated that it was too ‘expensive’ to fly Lorenzo out to Brazil and said his priority is to work with his engineers now that the season has started.

Lorenzo is not expected to attend this weekend’s Americas Grand Prix either, but he does not ‘usually miss’ the Spanish GP at Jerez, so it will be telling if he is absent.

Neil Hodgson’s hot take on Maverick Vinales and Jorge Lorenzo might just come true

KTM insiders predicted that Vinales would win a race before Acosta this year, but they were immediately proven wrong as the youngster took victory in the Thailand Sprint.

Jorge Lorenzo had a bet with Acosta’s manager, Albert Valera, that Vinales would finish higher in the championship. Already, it looks as if he will be paying up.

Acosta has scored 42 points in the first two rounds of the season, which puts him third in the championship, while Vinales is one of only four riders without a point.

Speaking at the start of the month, Neil Hodgson predicted that Lorenzo and Vinales would split before Jerez. At the time, that seemed like an overreaction to a poor Buriram weekend, but now it seems his opinion is increasingly gaining traction.