MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Maverick Vinales endured another difficult weekend with KTM, admitting he has been unable to find answers to persistent front-end grip problems during the 2026 MotoGP campaign. The Spanish rider revealed that his feeling was even worse than during pre-event testing.
Speaking to collaborator Manuel Pecino, Vinales explained that his race pace dropped by approximately one second compared to the previous test. The team experimented with multiple bike configurations across the weekend in an attempt to understand the issue, but without a clear breakthrough.
“Similar to yesterday, very few conclusions. I’ve lost one second of pace compared to the test. We tried five different bikes each day trying to understand, but in the end there was very little front grip and I lose a lot,” Vinales stated.
He made clear that the priority now is to move on quickly from the Grand Prix and focus on the upcoming round in Brazil.
“There’s not much more to add to the weekend. We try to turn the page as soon as possible and head to Brazil.”
Vinales described the sensation as if he were running on used tyres from the very start of the race. According to him, front grip progressively worsened each day. Data analysis indicated that other riders were able to generate more front-end grip with the same machinery, potentially through differences in body positioning or riding technique.
“The data shows they have more front grip. Whether it’s the position or how they place their body, they manage to create grip at the front, while I actually make it slide even more.”
Despite visible frustration, Vinales refrained from assigning blame within the team and insisted everyone is working at maximum capacity. He emphasised that the issue is clearly visible in the data and requires a technical solution before the next round.
“For five days I’ve been saying the front is sliding. I can’t do anything wrong. Whatever I do, it keeps sliding. There’s a lack of front grip.”
The inconsistency of the bike’s response remains the most puzzling element. Even braking at identical reference points produced different outcomes lap after lap. During the race, he ran wide seven times and lost approximately eight seconds due to instability at corner entry.
With the MotoGP 2026 calendar moving quickly, the Brazilian Grand Prix will represent a critical opportunity for KTM to address setup balance, load distribution and tyre interaction affecting the front end. The next round is expected to provide a clearer indication of whether the grip deficit can be resolved in the short term or risks becoming a recurring limitation throughout the season.
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