Maverick Vinales Doubts MotoGP Future After KTM Fallout

Maverick Vinales has cast major doubt over his MotoGP future after admitting he feels “burnt out” and suggesting he does not expect to continue on the grid.

The Tech3 KTM rider was speaking at the Sachsenring on Thursday, the venue where he suffered shoulder injuries last year and where he is still trying to regain full fitness. That physical context now sits alongside a strained contract situation with KTM for 2027.

Vinales had previously claimed he was in line for a factory seat. However, that possibility officially ended when KTM announced Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio as its factory riders for next season.

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The Tech3 seats for 2027 have not yet been confirmed, but Luca Marini is expected to take one place, with the other understood to be set to go to either Senna Agius or Manuel Gonzalez. In that situation, Vinales revealed he is no longer in discussions with KTM.

“No, not anymore. I think last week was the last terms. So after that, I don't talk anymore,” Vinales said.

Although several satellite teams have yet to complete their 2027 line-ups, Vinales indicated that he no longer expects to remain on the MotoGP grid next season. He also said he is not currently looking for a new opportunity.

“I don't know. I think in motorcycle [racing], I did everything I could do,” Vinales said.

“Maybe there are good opportunities or not, I don't know. I don't even look for it… at the moment, I'm looking for nothing. I'm [only] looking for a huge holiday!”

Vinales then claimed he had signed a contract with KTM, only to be told later that the document was not valid. According to the Spaniard, that episode became a decisive point in his reluctance to remain in the current situation.

“The thing is, after Montmeló [mid-May], KTM told me… well, no, I knew from the media, that di Giannantonio was going, in this case, in my place [at the factory team] let's say,” Vinales said.

“So I said to KTM, and then KTM, when I arrived in Mugello, they sent me a contract... on the email. I signed it. And okay, it was not really good, but in any case I wanted to race.”

“I really believe in the KTM engineers. So that's why, even if it was really against my benefit, I signed it. And after two weeks, they said this was completely not valid.”

“So after that, what can you expect? I mean, I don't want to stay here. This was not really serious from their part. So that's why I'm really burnt out of this world.”

Vinales also opened the door to competing in different events outside MotoGP, including races such as the Suzuka 8 Hours, which Jack Miller took part in last weekend. He said his love of racing remains, but that does not necessarily mean continuing in MotoGP under the current circumstances.

“I love to race, I love to do motocross, I'd love to maybe in the future do different races,” Vinales said.

“I was looking at Jack in the Suzuka 8 Hours, and I think this is really fun. So I would like to do something different. I think in this world, at the moment, I'm burnt out. So I don't think I will continue.”

Vinales' comments make his future one of the major topics in the 2027 MotoGP rider market, particularly with Tech3 yet to announce its line-up and KTM preparing for a new factory pairing of Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.