In his last year of contract with Aprilia in MotoGP, Maverick Viñales is one of many riders targeted by market rumors. Despite having a productive and satisfying stay with the Noale manufacturer, he has been suggested as a potential option for Honda.
The Spaniard considers it too early to make decisions but knows well what he wants for his future. For now, his focus is on Aprilia: ‘I didn’t make any decision, I think it’s too early to really think about it. But of course I will do what is the best for my career, for sure. I’m still really fast, I have a lot of speed and after Austin I saw much more clearly the speed I can have when I have the things in place. So my target was to find out where I can really maximize my performance and my potential. At the moment my compromise is 100% with Aprilia, for sure. I’m really focused on this weekend, but not only – also in this season, to do a really nice season. But about the future I still don’t know, I don’t think too much about the future to be honest’.
When asked if he would consider a project to develop a less competitive bike, Viñales did not seem very receptive: ‘What I think is that I need to find my maximum potential. Do you think there I can find my maximum potential? It’s difficult, I don’t see for sure. Maybe in the future, I don’t know; right now it’s difficult to think about that. But I think really my decision will be just pure performance and trying to really accomplish what I’m doing here’.
Despite understanding that it’s early to talk about the future, the #12 believes decisions won’t take long: ‘I think before Assen can be a good time, in more or less one month. I think Mugello is a crucial race for many riders for sure. I think before Assen most of us will have the future pretty clear. This is my opinion, because after this race we have a long break and it’s easier to think when you have a long break. I will try to make my decision in Assen, or at least what I think is the best’.
Recently, Aprilia Racing’s CEO, Massimo Rivola, commented Viñales’ continuity is quite likely, but the rider clarified: ‘I think it was a misunderstanding because I did the interview with DAZN and they said that Massimo confirmed that I will be on the team. I said: «I don’t have any papers!». I will do what puts me in a better way to maximize my potential. I’m lucky that my future is solved, and also for my children, so I just want to make results, that’s my only target’.