It seems increasingly likely that Maverick Viñales will be moving to Red Bull GasGas Tech3 for the 2025 MotoGP season. The rider is at the end of his contract with Aprilia, and the rumors have been intensifying.
According to Motorsport.com, the departure of the Spanish rider from the Noale manufacturer after the current season is almost certain. He is set to team up with Enea Bastianini in the KTM satellite team, which has had conditions very close to the factory team over the years, including current bikes.
Viñales initially wanted to work on renewing his contract with Aprilia, but the arrival of Jorge Martín may have been a turning point. Before that, the team wanted to wait for Aleix Espargaró’s decision—who ended up opting to retire—before negotiating with Viñales.
If the news reported by Motorsport.com on Wednesday night is confirmed, Viñales will leave Aprilia during the best phase since he joined in September 2021. He has progressed to fighting for top positions, obtained his first victory with the manufacturer in April, and is seen as the current reference for other RS-GP riders.
However, it appears that the value Aprilia places on him and his good form are not enough to keep him from seeking another challenge—specifically with KTM. As it stands, the goal will be to dethrone Ducati from the top, in addition to possibly making history again by becoming the first rider to win races with four different manufacturers. It will also be a fresh start for the 29-year-old Spaniard, who was beginning to find some stability with three consecutive seasons on the same team and a trajectory of growth.