VIÑALES STICKS WITH PRP THERAPY AS HIS SHOULDER RECOVERY CONTINUES

Maverick Viñales says his injured shoulder is improving day by day, after choosing to continue with treatment rather than switch to the medical team trusted by Marc Márquez.

The Tech3 rider’s recovery has been difficult since a highside during qualifying for the 2025 German Grand Prix. He landed on his left shoulder, fracturing the greater tubercle of the humerus and suffering ligament damage and a supraspinatus impingement. Persistent problems kept him out of 15 Grands Prix over the following 14 months.

Viñales returned at the Japanese Grand Prix after missing the previous four rounds. During the summer break, further examinations revealed a small tear in his infraspinatus. He had also struggled to regain stability after surgery in March to remove screws that had loosened in the joint.

While considering his options, Viñales thought about seeking help from Dr Samuel Antuna and his team at Madrid’s Ruber Internacional Hospital. They have treated Márquez, including operating on his fractured right shoulder in October 2025 and removing two bent screws in May. Viñales ultimately stayed with his existing medical approach, which has included Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy using his own blood to support tissue repair.

“Right now, I don’t feel limited. I do notice it a lot when it rains, but I’m improving every day,” Viñales said. Explaining why he did not change doctors, he added: “I didn’t do it because in recent months, undergoing another treatment, I’ve improved a lot.”

Viñales’ earlier shoulder operations were carried out by the team led by Dr Giuseppe Porcellini at the Hospital of Sassuolo: the initial surgery in July 2025 and a procedure to remove a screw in March. He has previously declined season-ending surgery, which was reported as a possible threat to his MotoGP career.

The Spaniard is due to leave Tech3 at the end of 2026. KTM opted not to extend his factory contract for 2027, and no alternative seats remained once the decision was confirmed.