KTM and Tech3 are not happy with Maverick Vinales after he was forced out of the Spanish Grand Prix due to another injury setback.

Vinales had tried to compete in both Jerez and at COTA, but his shoulder continued to give him problems. Despite his efforts to push through, he’ll now have to watch from the sidelines once again.

The Spaniard’s approach to managing the injury hasn’t gone down well with his team either. Reports say he kept the extent of the issue quiet from KTM, choosing to race against medical advice.

Vinales’ Injury Frustrations Growing Inside Tech3

Beirer didn’t hide his feelings on the matter, expressing clear frustration with how Vinales has handled his recovery process. With Pol Espargaro also sidelined, Enea Bastianini is set to be the only Tech3 rider lining up in Jerez.

The situation has led to missed track time and sponsor appearances, a point highlighted by journalist Simon Patterson. The team’s irritation with Vinales’ approach continues to grow.

Patterson, speaking on The Race MotoGP Podcast, said: “This ‘I’m fit to ride. Oh, wait, I’m not. Oh, I’m fit to ride. Oh, I’m not’ on and off thing, where this could have been resolved at the end of last season if he’d done what he was told.”

“If he quite openly told us what the doctors told him he had to do and then ignored them,” Patterson continued. “And I know from some internal conversations that KTM and especially the Tech3 side of things are not happy about that at all.

“They come from a world where you always have a replacement,” said Patterson. “You always have a sub on hand.” In Formula One you never have a situation where you don’t have two cars on track.

“And they’ve lost it feels like a substantial amount of their track time of their sponsor presence etc because Maverick has been making these stupid last-minute decisions to not ride because he’s not fit.”

Patterson added: “Which don’t get me wrong if he’s not fit he shouldn’t be riding but he’s not been fit since like August and he still keeps trying and trying and trying and making things worse.”

“Even this latest situation where we got diagnosed before the weekend in Texas,” continued Patterson. “And then insisted on still trying to ride the bike and had to pull out halfway through the weekend.”

Patterson concluded: “Nobody inside KTM can be particularly happy about that because it’s just unprofessional.”

What Vinales’ injury issues mean for his MotoGP future

Vinales’ injuries are hurting not just his current season, but also his prospects further down the road. He appeared to have a contract lined up with the factory KTM team for 2027, but that situation has now become uncertain.

The team has opted to ‘suspend’ his contract while they consider their next steps. With Alex Marquez already signed on for 2027, Vinales’ chances of joining him now look far less certain.

Even if he manages to return in full health, the path back into a full-time seat won’t be straightforward. MotoGP teams are currently leaning away from signing Spanish riders for 2027 as Liberty Media pushes to diversify national representation across the grid.

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