Maverick Vinales was so successful during his MotoGP stint with Yamaha in the late 2010s that he regretted his decision to leave the Japanese builder in 2021, even if it was the right move now.
In the year Having joined the premier class in 2015 as a top prospect, Maverick Vinales He failed to live up to the hype when he emerged as a MotoGP rider.
The Spaniard was among several developers during his career. He started at Suzuki, before He surprised himself with Valentino Rossi at Yamahamoving up Aprilia And then finding a home KTM.
Top Gun has secured eight of the 10 premier class wins between 2017 and 2021 with the Iwata-based outfit.
However, the relationship between the two parties ended abruptly and ended with him terminating his contract immediately after signing with Aprilia for the next campaign.
Can Jorge Lorenzo bring back the ‘killer’ in Maverick Vinales in 2026?
Maverick Vinales regrets not taking Yamaha ‘big sum’ before Aprilia switch
In a recent interview GPONVinales candidly recalls his journey from Yamaha to Aprilia, expressing how lucky he was not to have suffered the Japanese constructor’s latest woes in the premier class.
Asked if he regretted the way the move happened, the Spaniard said: “It’s always difficult when it comes to the future. I regretted leaving Yamaha.”
It was a lot of money, but when I think about it, I can say I was lucky, but now I have no regrets. In terms of sports, it was probably the right decision.
“I was riding an improving Aprilia, and in 2023-2024, I wouldn’t have been as fast as I was with Aprilia with Yamaha. I have no regrets about Aprilia, we just went our own way.”
“It’s true, they signed with George, but that wasn’t all, it was time I needed to see something else, no regrets, even though when we went to KTM they still had Stelacchini, then he went to them!
“So we decided in advance without knowing what the future holds. Nobody told me he was going.”
Vinales then detailed the issues he faced during his first year on KTM machinery. His first campaign in Orange was derailed by an injury that left him unassisted. Some serious discussion problems on RC16.
“Then there were problems last year, KTM didn’t tell us anything, I don’t know if they knew, but we didn’t,” he added.
“So we made this choice to look for a good team. We don’t know all the moves, but in the end, I don’t regret the decision.”
Prove them wrong: KTM thinks Maverick Vinales is the perfect replacement for Pedro Acosta
Maverick Vinales is expected to lead the factory KTM team with Alex Marquez in 2027
Pedro Acosta is understood to be leaving KTM in favor of Ducati for the 2027 MotoGP season. It is reported that Viñales will be the successor of the Spaniard Next year on the factory clothes.
Not only this Alex Marquez is expected to partner with Vinales In Matighofen, it marks the decisive change from the recently dominated Ducati bike to the KTM.
The rider’s action takes place during MotoGP’s new regulations, which is set to shake up the top tier of today’s premier class grid.
It’s unclear who will emerge as the dominant force next year, and with the rider market already promising an exciting season ahead, it should be fascinating to see where KTM finds itself in 2027.
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