- Jorge Lorenzo has been working as Maverick Vinales’ performance coach since the winter break
- Vinales has completely revamped his training program for the 2026 season
- After a year with KTM, the Tech3 KTM rider sees significant progress on the bike
Maverick Vinales is entering his twelfth season in MotoGP in 2026. Since his rise with Suzuki in 2015, the Spaniard has been considered one of the greatest talents in the field. With ten wins and 35 podium finishes, he has proven his speed time and again, but a serious world championship campaign has eluded him so far. For the new season, Vinales has therefore taken an unusual step and brought in Jorge Lorenzo, one of the most successful riders in MotoGP history, as his personal performance coach.
Lorenzo wants to bring back the killer instinct
Lorenzo, who won three MotoGP titles during his active career, sees a specific problem with Vinales. In the past, the Tech3 rider had a reputation for being an uncompromising fighter. “Everyone says that when he was a kid he was a killer and he hated to lose,” explains Lorenzo.
But it is precisely this characteristic that has been lost over the past five to six years. Lorenzo says that Vinales lost his motivation and hunger for victory at some point.
However, Vinales has now realized that, following the birth of his daughters and a few quieter years, he may only have two to three years left at the highest level. That’s why he now wants to give more than 100 percent so that he can be at peace with himself in the end.
Tough winter preparation in the most difficult conditions
The concrete collaboration began during the winter break and ran parallel to the rehabilitation of Vinales, who had suffered a shoulder injury at the German Grand Prix in July. The program included test rides with road motorcycles in Jerez and special figure-eight rides on gravel in Valencia.
Lorenzo’s approach of deliberately putting Vinales in situations that the rider had previously avoided was particularly influential. Vinales describes a situation in which the track was completely wet and he actually wanted to go home. It was his first time riding in the rain after his injury. “But no, I rode. He made me ride. And I think these kinds of things unlock a lot of potential. This is very important,” says Vinales.
Vinales explains that Lorenzo helped him to fundamentally restructure his entire training program. In the past, he mainly used the winter break to rack up miles and maintain his fitness. With Lorenzo, he now works specifically on certain areas instead of just doing laps. “With Jorge, we focus a lot on working every inch of the track,” says Vinales.
Technical refinements as the key to the next step
Vinales expects the collaboration to bring improvements in the technical area in particular. He says that he cannot fundamentally change his riding style as such, as much of it is already automated. Instead, it is about additional tools, such as accelerating or braking, which Lorenzo brings with him from his long experience as a top rider.
Lorenzo is also set to accompany Vinales during pre-season testing and the first races of the 2026 MotoGP season. Vinales hopes this will bring concrete added value, as Lorenzo is able to spot many details from the outside that remain hidden to the rider himself on the bike.
An unexpected partnership with history
The collaboration between Vinales and Lorenzo is also remarkable because the two share a common and not always easy past. It was Vinales who replaced Lorenzo at Yamaha in 2017 after the Mallorcan fell out with the Japanese manufacturer and moved to Ducati. Vinales admits that the last words between the two were not exactly friendly at the time. He is all the more surprised by the current dynamic. The relationship has been great so far, he says, and they have a lot of fun together. Lorenzo is in a different stage of his life and is enjoying his return to the racetrack.
KTM development makes Vinales confident
In addition to his personal development with Lorenzo, Vinales has a second reason for optimism: the motorcycle. About a year after his move to Tech3-KTM, he speaks of a completely changed situation. The bike is hardly comparable to the version from the beginning of his KTM career. In the past, the KTM had to be ridden extremely sideways without being able to act with any real precision. Now, the bike requires a much more controlled and precise riding style.
He now feels more comfortable, especially in qualifying mode, when riding individual fast laps at the absolute limit. He can push harder to the maximum and even overshoot slightly without losing control. This confidence is crucial to really exploiting the potential of the KTM engine.
At the same time, Vinales points out that the performance of the package still needs to be fully understood on different types of tracks. However, a demanding course like Sepang, where the last tests were conducted, is a good indicator. If a motorcycle is fast there, it can usually be competitive everywhere.
Motivation despite turbulent times at KTM
The past season was not only challenging for KTM in terms of sporting performance, but also marked by economic uncertainty. However, Viñales makes it clear that this never affected him personally. His self-confidence and attitude remained unchanged. He never had the feeling that anyone in the team was worried or unmotivated. Rather, the motorcycle simply did not perform optimally. It was only when a good balance and a workable compromise between front and rear grip had been found that a significant leap in performance was achieved, especially from the race weekend in Qatar onwards. This was followed by several top-5 results.
Vinales describes the motivation within the team as consistently high. He himself had set himself the goal from the outset of pushing the project forward to the maximum level. They know for sure that they have taken a step forward, even if they are not the only ones to have improved.
Contract situation and future
Vinales’ current contract with KTM expires at the end of 2026. He is considered a hot candidate for a place in the KTM factory team, where he could possibly replace Pedro Acosta. Alex Marquez is also said to be linked with the factory team.
What this means for me as a MotoGP fan
From a fan’s perspective, the collaboration between Vinales and Lorenzo is one of the most exciting stories of the 2026 season. Two former Yamaha riders, who did not exactly part on friendly terms, are now reunited in completely new roles. For fans who have been following Vinales since his early years in MotoGP, this partnership could finally bring the turning point that many have been waiting for. Vinales has always had the raw speed to compete at the front, but the consistency over an entire season has been lacking until now. With Lorenzo’s experience as a three-time world champion and the apparently significantly improved KTM package, the conditions seem better than ever before. Whether this will actually result in a world championship campaign remains to be seen, but the dynamics of this unusual partnership alone are likely to provide plenty of talking points in the paddock.
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