VINALES RETURNS TO MOTOGP ACTION AFTER POSITIVE 850CC TEST

Maverick Viñales is back on a MotoGP bike after another spell away, and a recent test has given the KTM Tech3 rider renewed confidence as he works to recover from a shoulder injury and find a way to remain on the grid.

The Spaniard missed seven races in 2026 after his shoulder, injured in the summer of 2025, continued to trouble him. He returned at his home Grand Prix in Catalunya and finished 11th, but felt his speed and confidence had not come back. After the German Grand Prix and a run without points, he stepped away again. His prospects for 2027 also took a hit: frustrated that a place he believed was secure at the Red Bull KTM factory team would not be available, Viñales turned down KTM. The 850cc era is therefore set to begin without the experienced MotoGP race winner.

He has not, however, given up on racing. With KTM focused on developing its 2027 bike, the team is keen for Viñales to return to action rather than Pol Espargaró. A test at Spielberg gave him a chance to ride the new 850cc machine after two months without a MotoGP bike.

“I was very relieved that I could do the test at Spielberg,” he said. “The bike is fantastic. It’s like a Moto2 bike with a big engine.” Viñales also completed a full sprint-distance effort and said the feeling was “really good”, reminding him “why I’m part of MotoGP”.

His time away had its benefits, too. “Honestly, I had a fantastic time at home,” he said, describing time with his family and training without constant travel as a welcome change. But he missed his MotoGP bike. He deliberately avoided doing much riding while recovering, explaining that he wanted to focus on his shoulder and avoid moving it the wrong way.

Viñales expects Motegi to be manageable, though he does not anticipate being fully fit. He warned that his forearms and neck could become a problem, particularly because the circuit’s new surface is likely to offer more grip and demand more effort. “It won’t be perfect yet, but it should be good enough for it to make sense to ride,” he said.

The 31-year-old is also realistic about the uncertainty surrounding his future. “There’s no place for me now,” he said of the 2027 grid, while insisting that his career is not over. “I still see myself as a MotoGP rider and I’ll work to ride here. The story isn’t finished for me.” He believes he will be physically capable of continuing, especially on the 850cc bikes, which he expects to be easier to ride.

For now, his priority is clear: “The most important thing is to be in the best possible condition.”