Vinales Bids Farewell to Aprilia After Three Years
Maverick Vinales is making a big move at the end of the 2024 MotoGP season. The Spanish rider will leave Aprilia and join KTM’s team, marking the end of his three-year stint with Aprilia. During his time with Aprilia, Vinales achieved one grand prix victory in Austin this year and secured seven podium finishes overall.
New Beginnings: Vinales Joins KTM’s Tech3 Team
Vinales will be joining the structure managed by Tech3 and KTM’s parent company, Pierer Mobility group. This team currently competes under the GasGas banner. He will be partnered with Enea Bastianini, a five-time grand prix winner, who is leaving the factory Ducati team. Marc Marquez is set to take Bastianini’s place at Ducati next season.
KTM’s Strategy: Four Identical Bikes on Track
KTM plans to have four identical bikes on track next year between its two teams. Alongside Vinales and Bastianini in the Tech3 team, Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta will race in the factory team. This strategy aims to boost KTM’s competitive edge in MotoGP.
Aprilia’s Rider Line-Up Changes
With Vinales leaving, Aprilia is set to lose both of its current factory riders. Aleix Espargaro has already announced his retirement from MotoGP at the end of the year. Espargaro is expected to join Honda as a test rider next year. Initially, Vinales had considered extending his contract with Aprilia. However, Aprilia chose to wait for Espargaro to decide his future before negotiating with Vinales.
The Twist: Jorge Martin Joins Aprilia
The situation took an unexpected turn after the Italian Grand Prix. Aprilia announced that it had signed Jorge Martin from Pramac at great expense. Ducati had chosen Marc Marquez as Francesco Bagnaia’s teammate for the 2025-26 seasons, leading to Martin’s move to Aprilia.
Who Will Take the Second Factory RS-GP Seat?
It remains to be seen who will occupy the second factory RS-GP seat at Aprilia. Current VR46 riders Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio di Giannantonio are seen as the most likely candidates.
A Look Back at Vinales’ Career
Born in 1995, Maverick Vinales debuted in the World Championship in the 125cc class in 2011. He won the Moto3 title two years later, achieving 12 victories in his three years in the minor class. After a single season in Moto2 in 2014, which yielded four victories and a best finish of third in the standings, Vinales made the leap to the top category as an official Suzuki factory rider in 2015.
Early MotoGP Success with Suzuki
Vinales recorded his maiden MotoGP win for Suzuki in 2016 before moving to Yamaha. In his debut season with Yamaha, replacing Jorge Lorenzo and partnering with Valentino Rossi, Vinales won his first two races in Qatar and Argentina, and his fifth race in France. Between 2018 and 2021, he added five more race wins to his tally, although it wasn’t enough to contend for the title.
The Switch to Aprilia
In mid-2022, Vinales decided to leave Yamaha following an incident in Austria. This led to his switch to Aprilia, where he found a new home and a chance to prove himself again. Now, in 2025, Vinales will compete for a fourth different manufacturer in his eleventh season in the premier class.
What’s Next for Vinales and KTM?
The upcoming season with KTM represents a new chapter for Vinales. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how he will perform with his new team. Will he find greater success with KTM? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Maverick Vinales is a rider who never fails to keep the MotoGP world on its toes.
