Following Maverick Viñales’ rejection of KTM, racing director Pit Beirer responds

The Tech3 rider’s words were unambiguous: upon his arrival at the Sachsenring, MotoGP veteran Maverick Vinales stunned the media with a clear rejection of MotoGP – and KTM. The Spaniard, who has been a regular in the premier class since 2015 and is therefore one of the most experienced riders in the paddock, expects that he will not be part of the MotoGP line-up in 2027. Notably, it was not KTM – as the sole remaining manufacturer – that gave Viñales a definitive rejection, but rather Viñales himself who decided against the remaining Tech3 option.

Speaking to SPEEDWEEK.com, KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer explained: “First of all – it is entirely understandable that Maverick is disappointed that he will not have a place in the factory team in 2027. He has our full understanding, as we certainly had plans to transfer him to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. But at the same time, Maverick’s injury prevented us from implementing that plan.”

KTM-Motorsportdirektor Pit Beirer

Foto: KTM Factory Racing

Pit Beirer continued: “We’re talking about exactly one year – that’s how long it’s been – and we’ve given Maverick all the time he needs to get back on the bike at 100 per cent. We haven’t reached that point yet. And yet, KTM has stuck to the plan to this day of fielding him as an experienced top rider at Tech3. The truth is: the only reason why, in consultation with Tech3, we have not yet confirmed any riders for 2027 is that we have kept a place free for Maverick. To this day.”

This makes it clear: as is so often the case, the devil is in the detail. It is evident that Viñales had firmly assumed he would be promoted to the official works team – and with the failure of this desired scenario to materialise, his trust in the decision-makers – and thus the basis for further collaboration with the Austrian manufacturer – has been lost.

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From KTM and Tech3’s perspective, the long wait is understandable. After all, the pool of riders currently regarded as class winners has long since been swept clean. The hope that Viñales would still return with top results, having regained his rhythm with plenty of kilometres under his belt before the summer break, at least kept the door open at the customer team. The door has now been closed not from the inside, as is usually the case, but from the outside – by a disappointed Maverick Viñales.

At the end of FP1, Vinales was the fastest of the four RC16 riders in 11th place, despite running wide at the fast Ralf-Waldmann corner.