Vinales at the Spielberg test – a fitness check for his final MotoGP races

On Monday, the 850cc test with Pirelli tyres took place behind closed doors at the Red Bull Ring. All five manufacturers made the most of this important day to test their 2027 prototypes with their regular and test riders. Ducati had champion Marc Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer and Franco Morbidelli on track, whilst Honda also had three riders out on the track – Johann Zarco, Diogo Moreira and Taka Nakagami. Aprilia sent Marco Bezzecchi, Raul Fernandez and test rider Lorenzo Savadori out onto the track. Yamaha had Toprak Razgatlioglu, Jack Miller, Augusto Fernandez and next year’s MotoGP newcomer Izan Guevara on track.

As reported, KTM sent the newly crowned MotoGP winner Pedro Acosta out onto the track – even though he is set to move to Ducati in 2027. “We decided to allow Pedro to ride our bike – to set the benchmark with the best rider we currently have in our squad,” explained KTM racing director Pit Beirer last weekend during the Austrian Grand Prix. Acosta was also the first to complete laps on the track in Styria on Monday. The Mattighofen-based team’s large testing line-up was rounded off by Pol Espargaro, Brad Binder and Moto2 ace Senna Agius, who was riding a MotoGP prototype for the first time. The Australian will contest his rookie season with the Tech3 team next year.

KTM sent a fifth rider out onto the track: Maverick Viñales. For him, however, the focus was on assessing his fitness. As a reminder: ‘Top Gun’ did not start at the Austrian Grand Prix due to injury. He was replaced by test rider Pol Espargaro – as was the case at Silverstone, Aragon and Misano. Vinales contested his last race weekend at the Sachsenring in early July. The persistent shoulder injury he sustained in his crash at the Sachsenring in 2025 is still hampering him. The aim is for him to get back on his KTM at Motegi in early October.

Vinales: Return at the Japanese Grand Prix?

It has been clear for some time that Maverick Viñales will lose his place at KTM Tech3 at the end of this season – Günther Steiner’s team will line up next year with Luca Marini and rookie Senna Agius. Due to his prolonged injury woes, speculation arose that Vinales might have to vacate his seat as early as during the current 2026 season. However, KTM has consistently emphasised that it intends to see out the year with Vinales and is doing everything in its power to get him back on the RC16. Tech3 team manager Nicolas Goyon, in particular, has reiterated this on several occasions.

Maverick Viñales’ participation in Monday’s test at Spielberg confirms this. It would certainly be to the best interests of the 2013 Moto3 World Champion and KTM to have the opportunity to bring their partnership to a close together on the track during the final Grands Prix of 2026.

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02.10.2026 - 01:55