With Aprilia, Maverick Vinales has rewritten the history of MotoGP: Is the Spaniard making a mistake by switching to Tech 3 KTM in MotoGP 2025?
In mid-June, it became clear that the 2024 MotoGP season would be Maverick Vinales’ farewell year at Aprilia (see story). A few weeks earlier, Vinales rewrote MotoGP history with Aprilia when he became the first rider to win with three different manufacturers. Next year, Vinales will take on a new challenge and become the teammate of Enea Bastianini at Tech-3-KTM, who joins from Ducati.
“I can be the only rider in history to win on four different bikes. That’s a very good goal for me,” says Vinales, explaining his motivation. The switch from Aprilia to KTM can be questioned in view of the sporting achievements of the two brands.
“I took a certain risk, but I believe in myself. I’m trying and I’m not afraid,” Vinales told MotoGP.com. The Aprilia chapter is coming to an end. With the victories in the spring, Vinales has achieved his goal: “I have come full circle with this win. I have achieved my goal at Aprilia. I feel free to move on,” explains the Spaniard, who is grateful to Aprilia for the opportunity he was given after his premature retirement from Yamaha.
New start at Aprilia: Vinales needed time to understand the RS-GP
In the middle of the 2021 MotoGP season, Vinales reached an agreement with Yamaha to terminate his contract early after a number of controversial scenes. He joined Aprilia, but struggled with the RS-GP at the beginning. While Aleix Espargaro secured his first successes, Vinales struggled with problems
It took until the current season. “I didn’t understand why it took so long. The bike was already very good in 2022. Aleix had a good season, but I couldn’t get it right. I didn’t know why,” Vinales looks back.
The knot burst in the previous year. “In 2023, we found something in the set-up that went against my natural riding style. I suffered a lot. But once we were able to fix that, we ensured good results,” reports the former Moto3 World Champion.
MotoGP 2025: Another season at Aprilia would have been less risky
Vinales is currently the best-placed non-Ducati rider in fifth place in the World Championship. Why doesn’t he continue with Aprilia? “Maybe it would be easier for me to secure good results if I had stayed,” he muses.
“Of course I’m thinking about that. I know the bike and the people. I know that I can achieve good results here. But I don’t care whether I finish fifth or seventh in the world championship. I want to ride at the top. Maybe I can, maybe I can’t,” he says, looking to his future at KTM.