KTM MotoGP rider Maverick Vinales continued his winter preparation on Wednesday by lapping the Valencia circuit on a Yamaha street bike.
Although the 2025 MotoGP season concluded just two weeks ago, Vinales has remained active with on-bike training at different tracks. The Tech3 KTM rider is still rebuilding his fitness following the shoulder injury he sustained during a qualifying crash at the German Grand Prix in July.
The injury turned out to be more severe than initially expected, requiring a 16-week recovery period. Vinales made several attempts to return, starting with KTM’s home race in Austria, but withdrew due to ongoing pain. He eventually raced at the Catalan, San Marino and Japanese rounds before pulling out of the Indonesian Grand Prix. After missing three more events, he returned again for the Valencia finale.
Vinales admitted that his shoulder issue restricted his usual training routine, causing him to lose muscle mass during his time away. Since the last race of the season, however, he has increased his physical and on-bike training. A recent video shared by his new rider coach, Jorge Lorenzo, also showed him working intensely in the gym.
On Wednesday, the Ricardo Tormo Circuit posted a brief video of Vinales riding a Yamaha street bike alongside the track’s riding school.
Vinales will continue with the Tech3 KTM team for the 2026 season, partnering Enea Bastianini. For much of the early 2025 season, Vinales was KTM’s top performer, with his settings often adopted by the factory riders.
He crossed the line on the podium at the Qatar Grand Prix but was later classified 14th due to a tyre pressure infraction.
After the 2025 season ended, Vinales confirmed that he had brought in three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo as his rider coach. Lorenzo recently said that riders with less natural talent have fought for MotoGP titles, adding that Vinales has the potential to do the same. He also described Vinales as one of the most challenging rivals he faced during his career.
