– Maverick Vinales could lose his place at the Tech3 team for the second half of the 2026 MotoGP season. According to the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com, the manufacturer from Mattighofen is currently evaluating the best option to take the Spaniard off the bike as soon as possible.
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For now, the officials have called up Pol Espargaro to replace him at the British Grand Prix next weekend. This deployment could extend to the entire remainder of the season.
KTM’s decision is the result of the injury Vinales has been struggling with since July last year. At that time, he injured his left shoulder in a crash at the Sachsenring – an ailment that still hinders him.
Vinales publicly criticizes KTM
The current development was accelerated by the enormous tensions between Vinales, KTM, and Tech3 CEO Günther Steiner, which have become publicly visible in recent weeks.
Vinales had committed to KTM to race for the customer team Tech3 in 2025 and 2026, but with a contract that binds him directly to the factory. After a very strong start to the season last year, the manufacturer promised him a promotion to the factory team.
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In the agreement, KTM held a unilateral option to extend the contract by another year until June 30. Vinales himself had planned to continue racing for KTM. But then KTM signed Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio for 2027 for the factory team, and recently there have been no signals from Tech3 indicating an extension of the collaboration.
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“In winter I was still in the factory team, now I don’t even know where I stand anymore. If I don’t continue in MotoGP, there is only one culprit: KTM,” Vinales had vented his frustration about KTM on the sidelines of the Czech Grand Prix.
During the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, Vinales further escalated the conflict. “KTM sent me a contract, I signed it, and two weeks later they told me it was not valid,” he said.
This caused displeasure with Tech3 CEO Steiner, who hinted at relying on new riders for the 2027 MotoGP season. “We want no baggage from the past. Therefore, people who have been associated with the group – not only with Tech3 and KTM, but with the group in general – may no longer fit in,” said the South Tyrolean.
Search for a face-saving solution
KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer stayed in the background throughout the dispute. The former motocross pro consistently emphasized that he had set the summer break as the time to make the final decision about the Tech3 rider lineup for 2027. However, the reality is that Luca Marini and Senna Agius are expected to race for the French team next year – official confirmation is still pending.
Against this background, KTM is trying to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. They want to avoid the risk of a public exchange of blows over the remaining eleven Grands Prix of the season. For this reason, a legal and financial solution is currently being sought that allows Vinales to be taken out of the team early without further damage to the image or high financial burdens.
