Viñales hits back after rumors of an early exit from KTM

The rumours arose after Motorsport.com reported that KTM is reportedly exploring whether Viñales — who missed several races earlier this season due to a persistent injury — can be replaced at Tech3 before the season ends. According to the outlet, test rider Pol Espargaró is considered the main candidate to take over from the Spaniard. There has been no official confirmation from KTM so far.

Viñales did not leave the reports unanswered and hit back on social media: "I'm reading all these nonsense articles. Last week I was at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre and we started to understand why my recovery isn’t progressing as hoped. I’m now discussing that with my doctors to see if this is indeed the cause and how we can improve it."

He then addressed the media that had speculated about his situation directly. "Stop writing this kind of nonsense about me. I’m not going to WorldSBK and I’m simply finishing the season, as stated in my contract," he concluded.

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The response comes just over a month after Viñales lashed out at KTM in Assen. The Tech3 rider stated at the time that the Austrian manufacturer had kept him in the dark about his future for a long time, thereby also denying him the opportunity to talk to other teams in time.

"If I’m not racing in the world championship next year, there’s only one party responsible and that’s KTM," said Viñales to journalists including GPblog, pointing out that KTM holds an option on him until July. "They should have just released me. Then I would have figured out my options myself."

The Spaniard also said he had learned through the media that Pedro Acosta — who is leaving KTM for Ducati next year — would be doing the Pirelli test in Brno, while he had previously been told he was in contention for it. According to Viñales, that was another sign that KTM did not want to continue with him.

Guenther Steiner, the CEO of KTM Tech3, was openly critical of his rider’s comments in an exclusive interview with GPblog. The Italian felt that Viñales went too far by holding KTM responsible for his situation.

Steiner emphasized that, in his view, performance is everything in MotoGP: "This is a sport where performance is everything. That’s what you’re judged on, and everyone knows that. To then blame KTM for everything, I honestly think that goes a bit too far. I don’t agree with that."

According to the former Haas F1 team boss, KTM has actually been very patient with Viñales. "I think KTM has been very patient with him and waited a long time, because those lesser performances didn’t last one or two races. If he had performed like he did at the beginning of last year, then I don’t think there would have been any problem extending his contract. We all have to perform in our jobs. That applies to him as well."

The Italian concluded with a final message for his rider. "I think Maverick is a good person. I just found these remarks very strong. To say: ‘If I’m not racing in MotoGP next year, it’s your fault’... Those are harsh words. Moreover, they also gave him the chance to be here in the first place. I would never forget that," Steiner concluded in Assen.