MotoGP winner, Maverick Vinales responds to “stupid” KTM exit rumours

10-time MotoGP race winner Maverick Vinales has responded to surprise rumours linking him with an immediate exit from the Tech 3 KTM team. 

Over the course of the weekend reports claimed Tech 3 KTM was considering dropping Vinales, possibly ahead of the British MotoGP.

A report from Motorsport.com suggested Tech 3 was looking for the quickest way to remove Vinales from the team, which if it were to happen, would likely spell the end of Vinales’ career in MotoGP altogether.

The report goes on to say that KTM would replace Vinales with Pol Espargaro, who currently serves as one of the Austrian factory’s two main test riders, alongside Dani Pedrosa. The belief is that Vinales’ ongoing shoulder injury, combined with the growing tension that has been building between Vinales and KTM, could lead to his immediate departure. 

However, Vinales has responded to these rumours, and in the process taken aim at those writing what he calls “stupid articles” about his future.

Vinales addressed the rumours as part of a post on his Instagram story, saying: 

“I start to read articles without sense. Last week I was in the APC [Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre] centre and we started to understand why I'm not able to recover [from a shoulder injury].

“I'm contrasting all this information with my doctors to check if this is the problem and what is the way to improve. Stop writing stupid articles about me, I will not race in SBK and I will finish the year as my contract says.”

It's believed that Guenther Steiner’s Tech 3 team has already spoken with outgoing HRC rider Luca Marini regarding a 2027 seat, while at least one rookie from Moto2 is expected to join the team as well. Both Tech 3 seats are unconfirmed at this moment, although the factory Red Bull KTM squad has already finalised its line-up, with both Alex Marquez (Gresini) and Fabio di Giannantonio (VR46) moving to KTM from Ducati.

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