Marco Bezzecchi
Maverick Vinales has reportedly been told that he won’t be racing for Tech3 next year as the team opt for a brand-new line-up.
It emerged over the Assen weekend that Tech3 are set to sign Luca Marini from Honda, while Moto2 talent Senna Agius is the favourite for the second seat.
And Motorpasion Moto report that the team have ‘made clear’ to Vinales that he won’t receive a new contract, which leaves him ‘out of MotoGP’.
Maverick Vinales made clear he would walk away from motorcycles if he lost Tech3 ride
While only a handful of official announcements have been made so far, it appears every team have settled on their line-ups. As of last weekend, only Trackhouse and Tech3 were still shopping the market.
But Assen Sprint winner Raul Fernandez will stay with Trackhouse, the team say. Enea Bastianini, Vinales’ current teammate, is widely expected to land the second seat.
How would you rate Maverick Vinales’ MotoGP career if he retires after 2026?
Vinales’ recent interviews have strongly pointed towards a split with KTM. He has publicly criticised the manufacturer for allegedly telling him he would get a factory seat, then going back on their word (by signing Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio).
He also says he has been prevented from agreeing a deal with another team, effectively rendering him powerless as he waited for clarity. It’s believed that KTM controlled their riders’ futures until 30 June.
As Motorpasion Moto note, Vinales has already ruled out moving to World Superbikes – the typical backup plan for ousted MotoGP riders.
He said in Brno: “In motorcycling, if I leave MotoGP, I’ll have done everything I needed to do. If I leave here, well, I’ll enjoy life.”
Vinales recently became just the 11th rider in premier-class history to reach 200 race starts. He has 10 wins, achieved with three different manufacturers, and 35 podiums.
While he bagged the Moto3 title in 2013, Vinales has never won a MotoGP championship. He is arguably one of the best riders who hasn’t achieved that feat.
The decision made by KTM/Tech3 paves the way for him to retire at the age of 31. Aleix Espargaro was the last rider to call time on his career (at the end of 2024) before transitioning into a role with Honda’s test team.
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