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Maverick Vinales Reflects on Missed Title Opportunities with Yamaha
Maverick Vinales has expressed that he believes he could have clinched a MotoGP championship earlier in his career if Yamaha had adhered to his suggestions during their initial partnership.
Vinales joined Yamaha in 2017, stepping into the role previously held by three-time champion Jorge Lorenzo after demonstrating significant potential in lower racing categories as well as with Suzuki in MotoGP.
The 29-year-old had an impressive debut season, achieving victories in the first two races in Qatar and Argentina, and clinching another win at Le Mans. Despite this strong start, he failed to secure any further race wins that season and ultimately finished third in the championship standings, trailing behind Marc Marquez of Honda and Andrea Dovizioso from Ducati.
In a recent documentary by Spanish broadcaster Dazn, Vinales disclosed that Yamaha opted for a different development path for the M1 motorcycle, contradicting his belief that the bike was competitively sound as it was. He theorizes that this decision hampered his title aspirations.
“When I joined Yamaha, I came in like a rocket,” Vinales stated in the documentary Maverick: two lives. “I arrived with a clear idea and with a singular goal: I want to be a world champion.”
He elaborated on his attachment to the Yamaha bike, stating, “When I got to the Valencia test, I fell in love with it. I told them not to modify it. I wanted the bike that Jorge Lorenzo used, believing it could lead me to championship success.”
However, Vinales recalled a moment of confusion regarding changes made to the bike prior to the pre-season tests, saying, “I won the first race, the second, and at Le Mans defeated my idol, Valentino Rossi. But then in Barcelona, adjustments started rolling in that I didn’t understand. I had specifically requested them not to alter the bike.”
After parting ways with Yamaha under contentious circumstances in the middle of the 2021 season, Vinales found a fresh start with Aprilia, ultimately returning to the winner’s circle at the recent Americas GP this season.
Looking ahead, Vinales is set to join Tech3 KTM in 2025, where he will have access to factory equipment from the team. Despite being the only non-Ducati rider to win a race this year, he acknowledges the challenges of racing for a satellite Ducati team while still nurturing hopes for the championship. “My next challenge is to win the world championship,” he stated. “I’ve concluded that there are two paths: you either challenge the top or settle into the shadows. Choosing to go to KTM feels like my best option to be a challenger.”
In comparing his experiences with different manufacturers, he said, “Racing with Suzuki felt like pure passion, Yamaha was more business-oriented, and Aprilia strikes a balance between the two. Aprilia is a brand deeply invested in racing, and they’ve helped rekindle my passion for the sport.”
Additional reporting by German Garcia Casanova
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