Maverick Vinales has revealed a strict clause in his contract with the Austrian manufacturer regarding salary deductions for injured riders in the 2026 MotoGP season. The Tech3 rider has been forced to push through severe physical pain on track despite suffering from a lingering shoulder injury sustained last year.
The physical struggles began when the Spanish rider suffered a heavy crash during the German Grand Prix qualifying session. Since that major incident, he has spent extensive periods on the sidelines. Vinales missed three early rounds to undergo surgery, followed by another four-race absence immediately after the summer break.
Although he made his return at the Japanese Grand Prix to finish 14th, he continued to struggle significantly during the subsequent rounds in Indonesia and Australia. He admitted that racing while injured is far from ideal, but financial penalties in his agreement leave him with no alternative.
"For me, riding like this makes no sense, because I’m the first one who doesn’t want to be at the back, and because I’m suffering a lot," Vinales stated. "My shoulder hurts, but if I stay home, I don’t get paid. There’s nothing I can do. Obviously, I was injured in Q1, racing for KTM, but the contracts you sign are what they are. You sign that you can miss three races, and after the fourth, they start deducting money."
This controversial contract structure has reignited discussions surrounding rider welfare and the necessity of establishing a formal riders' union, drawing comparisons to Formula 1's Grand Prix Drivers Association. Vinales highlighted the high-risk nature of motorcycle racing, noting that career-threatening injuries can happen at any moment, pointing to recent incidents involving riders like Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Furthermore, the physical burden on the grid has intensified significantly following the introduction of sprint races, which has driven up the average number of sidelined competitors per weekend. With contract security becoming a major talking point, pressure is mounting to re-evaluate rider agreements moving forward.
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