Vinales may have raced for the final time in MotoGP

Maverick Vinales says he will stop racing if scans this week show his shoulder injury is worse than thought, which could mean he has already raced for the final time in MotoGP. The Tech3 KTM rider was injured in a crash at the German Grand Prix last July and has continued to struggle with the problem in 2026.

The injury effectively ended his hopes of a place on the grid for 2027, after KTM reversed a plan to move him to its factory team following early-season struggles. Vinales finished 13th of 16 starters at the Qatar Grand Prix, and said he has no motivation to continue riding at reduced fitness. He has said he may need surgery or could recover through rehabilitation.

Vinales has also been linked to a Ducati test rider role, although nothing has materialised so far. Should he miss the final two rounds in Portugal and Valencia, KTM test rider Pol Espargaro is likely to replace him.