VIÑALES SAYS SHOULDER RECOVERY COULD TAKE YEARS

Maverick Viñales says he is still struggling with shoulder pain at the Australian Grand Prix, where Friday’s pre-qualifying practice left him 19th. The Tech3 rider described the weekend as a fight to limit the damage rather than a return to form.

“I feel really bad; this isn’t the Phillip Island I remember,” he said. “I’m in pain, and there’s not much I can do – I’m just trying to salvage the weekend.”

Viñales has been managing the injury since a crash at last year’s German Grand Prix. The Australian round is the 18th of the season, but only his 11th appearance for Tech3 in 2026, after several absences while he pursued recovery. His ongoing fitness problems have also been cited among the factors surrounding his scheduled departure from MotoGP at the end of the year.

He said his shoulder had become particularly painful since the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika, where he believes he pushed too hard. Tests carried out on Thursday brought some reassurance: the tendons were intact. But the underlying problem remains, he explained, because exertion can trigger inflammation in other areas. “If I stay at home, I feel great, but as soon as I start pushing, inflammation develops in other areas.”

The injury’s uncertain recovery timeline has left Viñales facing a difficult choice. KTM chief Pit Beirer said earlier in the year that he would not allow the Spaniard to return unless he was fully fit. Viñales has also said that he does not get paid if he does not race, adding financial pressure to the decision about whether to compete.

His doctors have warned that recovery could be prolonged. “They said it’s a really difficult injury to recover from,” Viñales said. “For a normal shoulder, it can take years, not just months.” He considers being able to ride a positive sign, but stressed that the shoulder needs time to heal. “I’m trying to do that, but in this world, it’s not easy to find the time needed. You can be as good a rider as you want, but in MotoGP, there’s very little time to recover.”