Maverick Vinales hints at MotoGP retirement after KTM Tech3 dispute - 'I don't think I will continue'

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KTM Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales could be set to bring his career in MotoGP to a close at the end of the season after the 31-year-old suggested the manufacturer had gone back on a plan to move him to their factory team for 2027.

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The 31-year-old Spaniard has been active in MotoGP since 2015 after coming up through Moto3 and then Moto2, but it appears that his time has come after more than a decade in the sport’s premier competition.

Speaking at Sachensing on Thursday, he suggested that he had grown tired of the difficulty of securing a new ride for next season.

Last season at the circuit, he suffered a shoulder injury which continues to hamper him in his quest for full fitness and his best form.

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While the decision to step away would be significant, it is not entirely unexpected as his relationship with his team has been difficult in recent months.

There were suggestions that KTM would look to move him to their factory team for the 2027 campaign, but those hopes ended when the team confirmed Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini) and Fabio di Giannantonio (VR46 Pertamina) as their new team.

While there is no official announcement for the KTM Tech3 team, it is anticipated that Luca Marini will be paired with one of Senna Agius or Manuel Gonzalez.

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Vinales explained that he can see the writing on the wall regarding his future, adding that contract talks have now ended.

"No, not any more. I think last week was the last terms. So after that, I don't talk any more," he said, per crash.net.

He added that he does not anticipate another offer to come in, saying: "I don't know. I think in motorcycle [racing], I did everything I could do.

"Maybe there are good opportunities or not. I don't know. I don't even look for it… at the moment, I'm looking for nothing. I'm [only] looking for a huge holiday!"

Vinales appeared to bristle at the manner of his departure, and suggested that he had signed a contract to stay on with the manufacturer, but then whatever deal there had been was declared invalid.

He explained: "The thing is, after Montmelo, KTM told me… well, no, I knew from the media, that Di Giannantonio was going, in this case, in my place [at the factory team] let's say.

"So I said to KTM, and then KTM, when I arrived in Mugello, they sent me a contract... on the email.

"I signed it. And okay, it was not really good, but in any case, I wanted to race. I really believe in the KTM engineers. So that's why, even if it was really against my benefit, I signed it.

"And after two weeks, they said this was completely not valid.

"So after that, what can you expect? I mean, I don't want to stay here. This was not really serious from their part. So that's why I'm really burnt out of this world."

He added: "I think in this world, at the moment, I'm burnt out. So I don't think I will continue."

Vinales currently sits 22nd in the 2026 MotoGP world championship standings with 10 points through 10 races.

His best finish in the world championship race was third, which he achieved twice in 2017 and 2019.

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