Maverick Vinales has admitted he is growing frustrated with KTM due to uncertainty over his contract for the 2027 MotoGP season.
Vinales had been expected to join the factory KTM team at the start of 2026, however his future is now in limbo after injury problems and a lack of results.
The Spanish rider joined the Tech3 team in 2025 after departing Aprilia and was considerably KTM’s best rider after team leader Pedro Acosta until he crashed in practice at the Sachsenring last year.
Vinales revealed he was told he was going to be a factory rider over the winter however this was put on pause after concerns over his fitness.
Since the move stalled, KTM is instead rumoured to have signed Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio for its factory team.
Instead, the Spanish rider is now fighting to even stay with the Tech3 KTM team after some tough results and injury struggles, which has left him frustrated over his uncertain future.
“I’ve always shown my loyalty to KTM. During the winter, I was told I was in the factory team,” Vinales told media including Motorsport Week at Brno.
“Then at Tech3, and now I don’t even know where I stand. I could have signed with another team despite the restrictions I had in my contract, but I didn’t.
“I could have sorted out my future during the winter, not now. The team is asking for results at a time when I’m injured.
“Maybe I can’t perform at my maximum level right now, but I will be able to in two months.”
Vinales also admitted if he does not find a ride for the 2027 season, he would be unlikely to take up any other series and instead spend time with his family.
“I don’t see myself in WorldSBK. In motorcycle racing, MotoGP is where I wanted to achieve everything,” Vinales said.
“If I leave here, then it will be time to enjoy life.”
Guenther Steiner on Maverick Vinales’ KTM future
Steiner revealed back in May that the Tech3 lineup would likely be sorted upon Vinales’ injury return.
However, the team and manufacturer KTM are still yet to confirm its lineup – although it expected that Moto2 rookie Senna Agius will step up to the premier class leaving one more ride available.
Steiner also admitted that both Tech3 and KTM will take time to properly assess Vinales given his long recovery from injury.
“I think to see his situation, we need to make sure that he’s back to be the real Maverick,” Steiner said.
“And we need to see if it is the shoulder or whatever it is. Because I don’t think he’s happy with his results.
“I mean, he’s the first one unhappy about it. And it’s just like getting back to his good old performance. And therefore, we take time, you know.”
However, Steiner admitted any final decision would not be made by him, as Vinales’ contract is with the Austrian manufacturer rather than the Tech3 squad.
“It’s not like, and it’s not actually my decision. Just so you know, his contract is with KTM at the moment. So I mean, I have nothing to do with it.
“Obviously, I speak a bit about it because we always speak about things. But in the end, it’s Maverick, you know. We give you time to recover.
“Because Maverick, on a good day, is a very good rider, you know.”
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