MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Maverick Vinales has insisted he has no regrets about leaving Aprilia to join the KTM project in MotoGP, despite several unexpected developments within the paddock since his move.
Before switching to Tech3 KTM for the 2025 season, Vinales appeared set to become a central figure in Aprilia’s MotoGP programme following the retirement of Aleix Espargaro. The Italian manufacturer had also secured the signing of world champion Jorge Martin, strengthening its long-term ambitions in the premier class.
After Vinales departed, Aprilia moved to sign Marco Bezzecchi as his replacement. The Italian rider went on to deliver the manufacturer’s most successful MotoGP season to date, taking three grand prix victories, three Sprint wins, and finishing third in the riders’ championship.
Meanwhile, Vinales played an important role during the early phase of KTM’s evolving MotoGP project. He helped guide the team through a difficult period following a winter financial crisis and provided a significant morale boost when he briefly led the Qatar Grand Prix before ultimately losing second place due to a tyre pressure penalty.
KTM’s progress later continued through strong performances from factory rider Pedro Acosta, who secured consistent podium finishes during the second half of the season and eventually finished fourth in the world championship standings.
However, Vinales’ own campaign was disrupted by a shoulder injury sustained at the Sachsenring, which significantly impacted his results during the remainder of the season.
The move away from Aprilia was not the first major career decision for the Spanish rider. Earlier in his MotoGP career, Vinales left Suzuki to join Yamaha in 2017 before eventually parting ways with Yamaha midway through the 2021 season.
“It’s always difficult when it comes to the future,” Vinales told GPone.com.
“When I left Yamaha, I regretted it. It was a lot of money, but looking back now, I can say I was lucky and I’m not complaining.”
According to Vinales, the sporting context at the time made the decision understandable given the progress Aprilia was making in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
“From a sporting point of view, it was probably the right decision. Aprilia was improving, and in 2023 and 2024 I probably wouldn’t have been as fast with Yamaha as I was with Aprilia.”
However, Vinales admitted he was surprised to later learn that Fabiano Sterlacchini would leave KTM to become technical director at Aprilia, replacing Romano Albesiano, who moved to Honda.
“There are no regrets, even though when we went to KTM they still had Sterlacchini, and then he moved to them,” Vinales explained.
“We made decisions in advance without knowing what the future would hold. No one told me he would leave.”
Across his MotoGP career, Vinales has achieved victories with three different manufacturers: one with Suzuki, eight with Yamaha, and one with Aprilia. His best result so far with KTM is fourth place, while he left the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP season in Buriram without scoring points.
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