STEINER SAYS HE HAS NEVER DEALT WITH A SHOULDER SITUATION LIKE VIÑALES’ BEFORE

Tech3 team boss Guenther Steiner says he has never previously had to manage a MotoGP situation like the one currently surrounding Maverick Vinales’ shoulder problem. Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, Steiner described the circumstances as unusual even for a team principal who has spent years in the paddock.

Steiner said Vinales has been dealing with an ongoing shoulder injury all season, and that it has “severely impacted his results.” He added that the issue was not fully understood at first, explaining that an “undiscovered tear” was found in the injury site during the summer break. According to Steiner, the discovery has complicated decisions about what should happen next, and Vinales withdrew from the British Grand Prix.

The Tech3 boss also referenced recent reporting that KTM had been looking for ways to bench Vinales for the rest of the season—claims Vinales rejected publicly on social media. Steiner, however, focused on the medical side of the matter, saying the most important priority is that Vinales gets healthy “for his own sake,” regardless of whether he rides a motorcycle in the immediate term.

Asked by Crash whether he had ever faced anything similar in his career, Steiner gave a blunt answer: “No.” He elaborated that in most cases, teams know what the rider has and what can be done, but in this instance even the doctors were not in a position to decide what the next step should be. “So, I’ve never had to deal with something like this,” he said, adding that he does not want to overstep his knowledge because he is not a doctor.

Steiner suggested the intention could be for Vinales to see out the season if he is fit, but he stressed that nothing had been formally decided. “If the health is back, yes,” he said, while also noting that “we need to wait and see” regarding what needs to be done next.

He further explained that he is not involved in day-to-day medical or contractual discussions. While Pol Espargaro is riding for the team at the event, Steiner said the wider hope is that Vinales can return to normal health. He also pointed out that communication between Vinales and KTM appears to happen directly, rather than through the Tech3 setup, due to the rider’s contract situation.

Beyond the injury, Steiner addressed the broader breakdown in the relationship between Vinales and KTM. Vinales has been outspoken about what he believes has been unfair treatment from KTM in recent weeks regarding his future, and he has also said that “all I get is criticism” from the team. Steiner acknowledged that the situation includes friction, but he avoided placing blame.

When Crash asked whether responsibility for the fallout should be shared equally, Steiner responded with a clear message that it takes two. “You are right there: to tango, it always takes two,” he said. He added that he does not want to judge the matter, noting that it is “before me,” and that he cannot do anything about it.

Steiner also framed his own approach as trying to be “correct” with everyone around him, while admitting that nobody is perfect. He said the situation appears to involve friction, but he does not want to comment further or take sides.

The Tech3 boss also noted that Vinales has experienced a similar kind of fallout before, citing his earlier dispute with Yamaha in 2021. Still, Steiner’s comments centered on the present challenge: an injury that has not only affected performance but has also left the next steps uncertain, with medical professionals holding the key decisions.