Maverick Vinales Surprised by Strong Bond with Jorge Lorenzo

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Tech3 KTM rider Maverick Vinales has admitted he is surprised by how strong his professional relationship with Jorge Lorenzo has become, after the pair endured what Vinales described as “not nice” moments during their time as MotoGP rivals in the 2010s.

Vinales confirmed at the end of the 2025 season that three-time MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo would join his programme as a personal performance coach. The announcement immediately attracted attention within the paddock, given the history between the two riders, both known for strong personalities and previously sharp public exchanges during their on-track rivalry.

Their relationship was notably strained when Vinales replaced Lorenzo at Yamaha for the 2017 season. Even before that, tensions had surfaced publicly, with Lorenzo accusing the then-Suzuki rider of working with Valentino Rossi to hinder his qualifying performance at Mugello. The rivalry intensified again in 2019, following a multi-rider crash triggered by Lorenzo at the Catalan Grand Prix, after which Vinales criticised him for committing too many “rookie” mistakes.

Despite that background, Vinales now describes the current dynamic as unexpectedly positive.

“The relationship has been fantastic,” Vinales said during online press conferences following KTM’s 2026 MotoGP launch.

“To be honest, we’ve had a lot of fun. I’m surprised too, because I knew another Jorge from the past. And the last words we had were not nice.”

Throughout the off-season, Lorenzo has shared extensive footage of his training regime with Vinales. The programme combines multi-discipline riding with intensive off-bike physical work, designed to improve adaptability, technical awareness, and overall consistency. The approach reflects Lorenzo’s methodical philosophy, which Vinales now sees as a key asset rather than a source of conflict.

The foundations of the partnership were first laid after Vinales won the 2024 Americas Grand Prix with Aprilia, although circumstances at the time prevented any immediate collaboration. The situation changed in 2025, when Vinales suffered a shoulder injury during qualifying for the German Grand Prix.

“For me, it was a common thing,” Vinales explained when asked who made the first approach.

“After I won in Austin [in ’24], there was some talk. But I was not able to do it in Aprilia. After the injury, somehow I felt it was the correct moment.”

“So we got in touch and we started this process. Everything depended on how the shoulder evolved during recovery. But it worked well, so we could work very hard from the beginning.”

Vinales stressed that his former employer did not stand in the way of Lorenzo becoming his performance coach, clarifying that personal circumstances were the decisive factor in delaying the collaboration.

“Absolutely not. Aprilia didn’t block anything,” he said.

“When you bring in someone like Jorge, it’s always a plus for the team. We know Jorge has a lot of qualities that I’m benefiting from.”

“It was more about my family situation. I had my little kid in 2024, so I needed to take care of them and support my wife.”

“Outside the bike, I have a life, and sometimes it’s more difficult. But now I have more confidence, the kids are a bit older, and everything is easier. Now I can really be 24 hours a day focused on MotoGP.”

Vinales also acknowledged that working with Lorenzo made him realise he was not performing at the level he previously believed. According to Vinales, the three-time world champion has been able to extract significantly more potential from him, both physically and technically.

A central element of that process has been Lorenzo pushing Vinales to ride in all conditions, even when motivation or confidence was lacking.

“Basically, we work, and then we enjoy it, but mostly we are working,” Vinales said.

“During this winter, Jorge forced me to ride in every condition, even when I didn’t want to go out.”

“I remember one time the track was really wet, and it was the first time I rode in the wet after my injury. I was ready to go home, but I rode.”

“He made me ride, and I think this kind of thing unlocks a lot of potential. This is very important. I think Jorge will bring the intensity I needed outside the MotoGP bike.”

One of Lorenzo’s preferred training methods has involved putting Vinales on 600cc machinery at tight, technical circuits. Vinales described this as one of the most demanding forms of training, given that such bikes are designed to be ridden fast and feel awkward when pushed at lower speeds.

However, that discomfort is precisely the point of the exercise. The training focuses on skill accumulation rather than outright speed, helping Vinales better understand bike sliding, rear-tyre usage, and fine control — elements that are increasingly decisive in modern MotoGP racing.

With Lorenzo’s influence and a renewed approach to preparation, Vinales enters the 2026 season with KTM carrying a more disciplined and comprehensive mindset. The transformation of a once-fractured rivalry into an intensive professional partnership stands as one of the most compelling off-track stories heading into the new MotoGP campaign.