Maverick Vinales says his switch to the Tech3 KTM is “probably the biggest challenge” he has faced in his MotoGP career to date.
Vinales was the sole non-Ducati rider to win a race last season after a stunning display in Austin, but opted to move to the satellite KTM team for the current campaign.
The development of the RC16 has been compromised by the manufacturer’s financial difficulties prior to the Spanish rider’s arrival at the team, which has left its riders fighting to be competitive in the field.
Heading back to Austin where he sealed a perfect weekend in 2024, Vinales recalled how “special” his win for Aprilia was, but emphasised that KTM can also get back to winning ways in time.
“It was very special because we were searching for so long with Aprilia,” Vinales said to MotoGP.com.
“We had many opportunities because we knew we could do it, we just needed to prove it and it was very nice.
“I know it’s [been] a long time KTM hasn’t won a race. I know it’s not good, but at the moment it’s fact.
“But I don’t want to look to these objectives because I will get very frustrated, I have a really big challenge, probably the biggest one I have, but I’m ready for it.
“I think as soon as I switched from Yamaha to Aprilia this experience gave me a lot of information that I can apply now.”
“I have always been in the front so it’s not really for me to see myself again struggling to be there, but I know it takes time.”
Vinales: ‘I don’t know how many years it will take’ KTM to return to MotoGP glory
While Vinales is optimistic KTM will get back to the front of the grid, he stressed he is uncertain how long it might take.
The Spanish rider also suggested it may take for the new regulations for the Austrian manufacturer to recover.
“Basically this year I’m always working on the pace and working on the confidence, which is important to always have. For the rest, I’m quite optimistic and happy.
“Obviously I don’t know how many years it will take. It’s like always – maybe it takes one month, maybe it takes one year.
“I need to wait to change something for next year to really be more competitive. We have to remember we are quite far from the main guys, so I need to work.
“Now it’s that painful moment where you work and work and it looks like things didn’t happen, but in the end, suddenly they happen.
The ten-time race winner continued: “If I compare with the same guys that ride my bike, I’m quite close so very soon I will be at the maximum.
“There’s a few things I can see on the telemetry, on the data that I’m doing really well and that’s nice. I think if I fix two or three things that are really small then I can make a big step and I can be closer to the top guys.
So it’s a matter of time to put everything together. The braking area is something I am struggling with, but this is because of technique.
“I really need to get into that different technique and as soon as I get it, I will be faster.”
‘Too early’ to judge KTM improvements – Vinales
When asked where the KTM machine has improved, the Spanish rider admitted he couldn’t see many improvements.
However, Vinales underlined the test at Jerez as a decisive moment for the team’s season.
“It’s too early to say anything. It’s only really been one month I have been with KTM, so I cannot really see anything at the moment.
“We will see when we arrive in Europe, when we go to Jerez where the first test is to see what we have there, what we don’t have there.
“For now, it’s too early to say how hard we are trying or not because at the moment I don’t know.
The Spanish rider also confirmed that his objective for the season is to be consistently running at the same level as his KTM teammates.
“The goal for the season for me is to be at the level of my teammates and try to be in front of them. It will be hard because they have a lot of experience and they are also fast riders.
“This is my priority, for the future I don’t know, we need to see how quickly we step up or if we need much more time.”
