Maverick Viñales has reached his limit. In Qatar, the KTM rider finished both races, but this resilience masks a far more worrying reality: his pain is increasing, his performance is stagnating, and his motivation is plummeting. With two Grands Prix remaining in the season, the Spaniard is now considering withdrawing from Portimão and Valencia. He will make this decision after further medical examinations. Because one thing is certain in his mind: continuing to race at half his capacity no longer makes any sense.
Vinales: "I'm in more and more pain": Qatar hasn't helped matters
At Losail, Viñales once again tried to cope with his physical limitations. But the effort aggravated his discomfort, particularly in his right arm. " It was very difficult . I put a lot of strain on my right arm and I started to feel pain in my forearm, like compartment syndrome ."
Despite these difficulties, the Spaniard managed to maintain an encouraging pace for part of the race. " We maintained a good pace in the middle of the race, which I wasn't expecting. After that, I tried to accelerate, but it was very difficult ."
The problem now goes beyond simple fatigue. Viñales is showing no physical improvement. Worse, each new Grand Prix seems to leave him in a more worrying state.
An MRI to understand what's no longer working
The KTM rider plans to consult specialists as early as next week. His goal is to undergo multiple examinations, including an MRI, to precisely identify the source of his pain.
“ My plan is to go to the doctor, have all possible tests done, including an MRI, to understand what’s wrong .” Viñales fears that a persistent injury explains this lack of improvement. “ I don’t see any improvement with each race. I don’t feel like I’m getting better; on the contrary, I’m even in more pain .”
The Spaniard is considering several options: surgery if necessary, or a period of rest accompanied by appropriate rehabilitation. For now, no definitive diagnosis has been made.
Viñales: " I hate every lap spent at the back of the pack. »
Beyond the pain, it's the sporting frustration that becomes unbearable. Viñales can no longer stand starting a race without being able to reach his full potential. " If I have something broken, I'll stop, because there's no point in continuing . I can't improve ."
Then came a particularly revealing confession about his state of mind. " I hate being at the back of the pack. I hate every lap spent in that situation ." For a driver used to winning Grands Prix, this helplessness represents an additional ordeal.
It's no longer simply about finishing the races, but about finding the means to fight again.
"At 50% of my capacity, it's pointless."
When asked about what comes next, Viñales didn't try to hide his discouragement. " Right now, I have no motivation to continue . If I feel like this, there's no point in getting on a bike at 50% of my capacity ."
The Spaniard is not announcing his retirement from MotoGP . He mentions stopping his participation until his physical condition allows him to progress. " Perhaps I will need an operation, or perhaps I can recover little by little by staying home and doing appropriate rehabilitation ."
The decision will therefore depend on the medical findings. But an absence in Portimão and Valencia is becoming a serious possibility.
So, what do we remember?
- Viñales is suffering more after Qatar, particularly in his right arm, and is not seeing any improvement.
- An MRI and further tests are planned to identify any possible lesions.
- He is considering ending his season prematurely, refusing to continue racing at half his capacity.
At this stage, Viñales doesn't yet know if surgery will be necessary or how long his recovery will take. But his message is clear: Maverick Viñales hasn't lost his desire to be a rider. He's lost the desire to get on a MotoGP bike without actually being able to ride it. And that difference could decide the end of his season.
