Since announcing his signing with KTM last Thursday, Maverick Viñales has maintained total radio silence. The Catalan's only statements about his unexpected departure from Aprilia were shared on his social networks, where he expressed his joy and determination: “ happy to announce my next project, thanks to everyone who supports me. I still have many races left this year in which I will give everything to succeed."
That's all he's said so far. In fact, Maverick had planned a first interview as a future pilot KTM, but it was canceled at the last minute for undisclosed contractual reasons, perhaps linked to media priorities (DAZN, MotoGP.com, etc.).
Waiting for Casa Particular in Viñales explains the reasons for his departure from a winning project as Aprilia to join the team Tech3 allied with KTM, his former agent, Ricard Jove, shared some interesting insights on this change of direction during his intervention in the DURALAVITA Sport News GP program relayed by Todocircuito.
Ricard Jove tried to answer the burning question: why Maverick no longer trusts the Aprilia RS-GP, especially when it outperforms the KTMs of Brad Binder et Jack Miller This year ? “ Between Maverick and Aleix, they won three Sprints, and Maverick won a race in Austin this year,” recalls Jové. » KTM is not at this level. Why is Maverick moving? Aprilia's problem, beyond the budget, may be in the reliability of its motorcycles. At Portimao, Maverick fell near the finish. There were clutch problems, broken exhausts... Maybe that's the reason,” he explains.
« Uncertainty over Pramac's partnership with Ducati led Maverick Viñales to choose KTM »
As for the idea that Casa Particular in Viñales would have been offended by the signing of George Martin, Jové refutes it: “ there are people who say that Maverick felt offended by the signing of Martin. Maverick started moving long before Martin. At Mugello he told Aprilia he didn't want to continue. For me, it's purely sporting. Maverick is not leaving for economic reasons, he really wants end his sporting career and does not see Aprilia as the right project."
Jové also reveals that Casa Particular in Viñales was about to make a deal with Ducati at Pramac Racing, an agreement which failed due to of a possible change of the Ducati satellite team to Yamaha : “ Viñales had several options. His initial priority was Ducati. He was very close to Pramac, but the uncertainty over their partnership with Ducati led him to choose KTM. The atmosphere is a little corrupted by everything that has happened in recent days with Marquez and others and I think that the Pramac project will change direction " , he added.
Finally, Jové mentions the consequences of the arrival of Casa Particular in Viñales et Enea Bastianini at KTM Tech3, leaving Augusto Fernandez et Jack Miller without handlebars. “ The decision was not easy for KTM, it has collateral damages. What happened to Augusto and Miller hurt them. KTM sells a lot in Australia, and Pit Beirer has been struggling these days,” concludes Jové.
