Marco Bezzecchi
Neil Hodgson has leapt to the defence of KTM over their treatment of Maverick Vinales amid the Spaniard’s frustrations with being overlooked for a factory seat.
With it currently looking like Maverick Vinales is on his way out of the premier class, the Spaniard shed more light on the reasoning behind why he feels like KTM have betrayed him in regards to a seat at the factory team in 2027.
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Ahead of this weekend’s German Grand Prix, Vinales revealed that he had signed a contract that KTM had sent over to him, only for figures from the team to tell him that it was no longer valid just weeks later.
Despite the bombshell, MotoGP pundit Neil Hodgson believes KTM are completely in the right with their management of the fuming rider, stating that he would do the same thing if he were given the reins of the Mattighofen-based factory.
Neil Hodgson explains why Maverick Vinales’ KTM contract was ‘not worth the paper it was written on’
During TNT Sports’ coverage of practice at the German Grand Prix, the former MotoGP rider touched upon the situation unfolding within Tech3 and KTM (14:42 10/07): “It’s quite hard to watch because the relationship was so strong with him and KTM.
“He did such a good job last year before [the 2025 German GP], where he destroyed his shoulder, unfortunately. Up to that point, everything was going great. But we saw when we saw the violence of that crash here, we thought that it could be a career-ender.
“As it’s turned out, he’s still not recovered fully from it. The reality is, when you are given a contract, it’s an unsigned contract. You can sign it, but until that contract signed by the other party, it’s literally not worth the paper it was written on.
“During that period of time, things have changed, and they’ve obviously decided to look at going a different direction. I have to be honest, if I were them, I would have been looking in a different direction now, at this point, too.
“Plus, I believe that his comments are that the shoulder is still not 100% right. It’s been a year, literally. So, he’s sort of damaged goods and probably past his best. It’s harsh, but the truth. There’s so much talent out there.”
Vinales received another blow to his chances of landing a seat on the 2027 MotoGP grid after KTM boss Pit Beirer later confirmed to Sky Sports Italy that Tech3 is in conversation with Luca Marini, with a final decision to be made after the German GP.
Pit Beirer offers clarity on the Maverick Vinales-KTM situation
Following Vinales’ revealing words during his media duties at the Sachsenring on Thursday, Beirer offered some transparency on what ‘Top Gun’ had to say.
Speaking via Speedweek, the German said, “First of all – it’s completely understandable that Maverick is disappointed that he won’t have a place in the official team in 2027.
“We fully understand his feelings, as we certainly had a plan to transfer him to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. However, Maverick’s injury prevented us from implementing that plan.
“We’re talking about exactly one year, that’s how long it’s been, and we’ve given Maverick all the time he needs to get him back on the bike at 100 per cent. We haven’t reached that point yet. And yet, KTM has stuck to the plan of using him as an experienced top rider at Tech3.
“The truth is: the only reason we haven’t confirmed any riders for 2027 yet, in agreement with Tech3, is that we’ve kept a spot open for Maverick. Until now.”
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