VIÑALES MAY END HIS SEASON EARLY IF INJURY CHECKS FIND A SERIOUS PROBLEM

Maverick Viñales is considering ending his 2026 MotoGP campaign early if medical checks show that his lingering injury cannot be repaired or improved in time for the final two rounds.

The Tech3 rider plans to see a doctor before the Portuguese Grand Prix and undergo tests, including an MRI, to find out why he is not recovering. “Something has to be broken or there’s some problem, since I’m not getting better,” he told Motosan. Viñales said he feels no improvement from race to race and is in more pain, leaving him concerned that “there’s definitely something wrong inside.”

He has missed seven race weekends this season after a series of injury problems, and has yet to fully recover from a crash in Germany last year. Viñales said he would stop racing if tests reveal a break that prevents progress. “There’s no point in continuing. I can’t improve,” he said, adding that he hates spending laps at the back of the field. If there is nothing positive to gain, he said, “I stop. I definitely stop.”

His immediate future is uncertain, with Viñales already set to leave MotoGP at the end of the season. He had been expected to join KTM’s factory team in 2027, but his form and fitness affected those plans. He has been linked with a possible Ducati reserve-rider role, though he has said he does not feel ready to become a test rider.

Asked about his plans for 2027, Viñales said: “For now, nothing. I have no motivation to continue.” He explained that riding while feeling only “50%” was not worthwhile. Depending on the medical findings, he may need surgery or could recover through rest and rehabilitation at home. If neither option allows him to return to a suitable condition, he said, “I’ll quit.”

The decision comes amid a difficult season for MotoGP, with injuries affecting several riders. At the Qatar Grand Prix, Jorge Martin raced despite a fractured radius, while Viñales also competed with a shoulder injury. The event had only 16 bikes on the grid after Yamaha withdrew and Pecco Bagnaia and Luca Marini were unavailable.

Two rounds remain, in Portimao and Valencia. Marc Marquez leads Martin by 60 points and Marco Bezzecchi by 74 after Bezzecchi’s Qatar victory; Marquez can clinch the championship by winning the Portimao Sprint. For Viñales, however, the priority is first to establish what is wrong and whether continuing to race is possible.