Marco Bezzecchi
Maverick Vinales has openly admitted that KTM told him he would join the factory team in 2027 and then changed their minds.
Vinales left Aprilia to join satellite team Tech3 at the start of the 2025 season, which was regarded as a coup for KTM.
He showed great promise in the first half of last year with three top-five finishes after a tyre pressure penalty denied him a podium in Qatar, but he hasn’t been able to regain top form since suffering a shoulder injury at the German GP last July.
Rank the rumoured MotoGP factory line-ups for 2027!
We're still waiting on announcements, but this is how it's shaping up!
Maverick Vinales questions whether KTM have reciprocated his ‘loyalty’
The lingering injury led to two separate spells on the sidelines for Vinales, one in the immediate aftermath, and one in the spring of this year. When he hasn’t featured, he hasn’t finished higher than 13th.
10-time MotoGP race-winner Vinales claims that KTM offered him a 2027 factory spot but then went back on their word. They have since signed Alex Marquez from Gresini and Fabio Di Giannantonio from VR46, with announcements expected in the near future.
While a contract extension at Tech3 remains possible, Vinales says he doesn’t know if he’ll be on the grid next year. KTM have an option to extend his contract until 30 June, which has prevented him from signing for another team.
If they decide not to keep him, the 31-year-old says he will retire rather than switching to World Superbikes.
“I always showed my loyalty to KTM,” he said, via Motorsport ES. “In the winter, I was on the factory team; then, on Tech3, and now I don’t even know where I am. I could have signed with someone else, despite the restrictions I had, and I didn’t.
Who should fill the 2027 satellite seats?
This is what it's looking like, based on the rumours
“I could have made my way in the winter; not now. The team is asking me for results now that I’m injured. Maybe I can’t give my best now, but I will be able to in two months.
“I have a contract that says I’m obligated to wait until a certain date. I’m not breaking any rules. We have to wait, because there’s no other option.
“I don’t think I see myself in Superbikes. In motorcycling, if I leave MotoGP, I’ll have done everything I needed to do. If I leave here, well, I’ll enjoy life.”
KTM’s ultimatum to Maverick Vinales as he fights for a seat
With KTM still mulling their options, Vinales has been denied the chance to test the 2027 bike at Brno next week – something he discovered through the media.
According to journalist Manuel Pecino, via his YouTube channel, Top Gun has been given three more races to make his case. But as he mentioned, it will be difficult to do so until he’s 100% fit in a couple of months.
Pecino’s information aligns with another report that KTM only need to see one positive result for Vinales, be it in a qualifying session or a race, to reassure them.
Tech3 boss Guenther Steiner is keen to sign Raul Fernandez, but that deal is complicated due to his fractious departure from KTM in the past.
It’s said that Steiner wants one experienced rider and youngster, so Vinales may be battling Fernandez and Brad Binder for the former slot. It remains to be seen whether Enea Bastianini enters the equation or his anticipated move to Trackhouse goes through.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
