Maverick Vinales will finally make his return to the MotoGP grid for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, after a string of absences dating back to the shoulder injury he suffered nearly 15 months ago. This is a comeback that was once thought unlikely, and it might just be his last in the premier class.
The shoulder injury sustained during the 2025 German GP weekend marked the beginning of a nightmare. Since then, Vinales has been in and out of the paddock, returning before he was fully healed, then suffering complications from a loose screw in his shoulder, and most recently, muscle damage that limited rotation in his left arm. His performances were a far cry from the bright start he made with KTM last year.
His return to Motegi is not without drama. Last summer, reports emerged that KTM was trying to get him out of its line-up early, which Vinales fiercely denied. Tensions peaked when KTM cooled on promoting him to the factory team for 2027, leaving his grid spot in jeopardy.
"I'm really happy to finally say that I'm coming back to racing," Vinales said. "The last few months have been a long process, and I've worked hard every day to get to this point. I'm not at 100% yet, but I'm on the right path and I feel ready to take this next step. Motegi will be about building things up step by step, understanding where I am physically and getting my feeling back on the bike."
Criticism has come from various corners, including Tech3 team principal Guenther Steiner, who lost patience with Vinales' inconsistency. "You can't say, 'Oh, I'm fit but I'm not performing because I'm not fit.' You have to pick your battles. It's one or the other," Steiner told The Race. "To show your performance you need to be fit. You need to be 100% fit to ride one of these machines, and I think coming back early doesn't make you quicker. It doesn't heal you."
Motegi will be a tough test for Vinales. The circuit demands physical strength and consistency, and it will challenge whether his shoulder has truly healed. He must prove he still belongs at the highest level, even as his MotoGP future remains uncertain. If he fails to deliver a convincing performance, Motegi could be his final stage.
On the other hand, KTM also has a vested interest in Vinales' performance. The outcome at Motegi could influence their decisions regarding next year's rider line-up. Will Vinales remind the world of his talent, or will he reinforce the doubts? All eyes will be on Motegi.
Baca Juga
Maverick Vinales kembali ke MotoGP Jepang setelah cedera bahu. Simak pernyataan dan dampaknya bagi Tech3 KTM di Motegi.
Peta kepala teknisi MotoGP 2027 berubah: Quartararo ke Honda dengan Pupulin, Acosta warisi tim Bagnaia, dan KTM rombak besar-besaran. Simak detailnya.
Manuel Gonzalez memberi sinyal bertahan di Moto2 untuk 2027 setelah belum mendapat kursi MotoGP. Simak alasan dan peluangnya mempertahankan gelar.
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