Maverick Vinales 'feeling good’ ahead of MotoGP return as questions loom over his future

After missing the last three races due to injury, Vinales will return to action in Barcelona this weekend but there are still some questions over his fitness and future in MotoGP

Maverick Vinales admitted that he has regained strength and muscle power following surgery, but he still does not know how long it will take to return to 100%.

The Tech3 KTM rider underwent an operation to recover a displaced screw from his left shoulder that had been hampering his performances in MotoGP at the start of the season.

Vinales’ future with KTM

Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Before the start of the season, KTM had identified Vinales as a potential replacement for Ducati-bound Pedro Acosta, with the Spaniard being considered to join the factory team alongside the incoming Alex Marquez.

However, a tough start to the season and the subsequent injury layoff have changed the situation, with Motorsport.com reporting earlier this month that current VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio has agreed terms to take the seat originally earmarked for Vinales.

That means that Tech3 remains his only option to remain within the KTM stable, with the French team now likely to extend its relationship with the Austrian marque into MotoGP’s 850cc era.

Vinales stressed that it was important for him to make a full recovery as quickly as possible to continue racing for KTM next year.

“My situation is that I still have one more year on my contract. KTM has the right to renew,” he said.

“I have to wait and see. Obviously, our main target and, also from KTM’s side, is to see if I recover. Because if I don't recover, I can be the best guy in the world [and still don’t have a seat]. This is business and this is racing. But if I recover, then it's another story.“

He added: “The relationship we have is really good with KTM. I mean, especially with Aki [Ajo].

“They know clearly what I can do. They see that on the data every single day.

“But at this moment, I'm injured. I'm a racing horse, but if I'm injured, I cannot pretend to be pretty. I need to work.

“I have to recover. And then when I recover, I have the power to say ‘now’.

"But if I am like this…two weeks ago, I could not hang my arm like this. [So if it stays like this], they [will] say, ‘well, maybe we have to find another plan’.

“But this is totally normal. I totally understand. And now it's time to work, to come back, and show, as I showed them last year, that even with the bike [not performing well] you can be there.

“So this is my plan, to recover and then ride 100%.”