VIÑALES LINKED WITH DUCATI TEST RIDER ROLE AFTER 2027 EXIT

Maverick Viñales is searching for a route back into MotoGP after losing his full-time ride for 2027, and a reported meeting with Ducati has raised the possibility of a test-rider role.

The Spaniard had been expected to move up from Tech3 to KTM, but the team changed its plans after his difficult start to 2026 and a series of injury setbacks. Viñales has scored only 12 points and sits last in the standings. His relationship with KTM has reportedly broken down after he missed several races with a shoulder injury. For 2027, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Alex Márquez are set to join KTM, while Luca Marini and Senna Agius are due to race for Tech3.

Viñales returned at Motegi after four races away and finished 14th, scoring points. KTM had prevented him from racing in Austria, reportedly concerned about the prospect of a poor result at its home event. He now hopes to finish the season strongly while pursuing another opportunity in the paddock.

Journalist Simon Patterson said on The Race MotoGP Podcast that he had heard Viñales was “spotted in a meeting with Tardozzi,” referring to Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi. Ducati is looking for a new test rider: Michele Pirro is 40, while Nicolo Bulega, who has tested the manufacturer’s 850cc bike, is set to join VR46 in 2027.

Patterson said Ducati was “kind of in the market for a new test rider,” adding that Pirro was “approximately ancient” and the team had lost another test rider by making him a MotoGP rider. The reported encounter has not been confirmed as a job offer.

Viñales has ruled out a move to WorldSBK and says he is not ready to leave MotoGP. “I don’t think my MotoGP story is over. I’m not ready to give up. I have to find a way back,” he told Motorsport.com’s Spanish edition. He added that he would “rather stay at home and wait for an opportunity” than switch championships.

His shoulder, he acknowledged, may not return to its previous condition, but he believes it is fit enough for riding. He also suggested that next year’s bikes—“like Moto2 bikes but with a much more powerful engine”—would be manageable. For now, a Ducati test role is only a rumour, but it could offer Viñales a way to remain in the MotoGP world as he seeks a return to the grid.