In the last year of his contract with Aprilia in MotoGP, Maverick Viñales is one of the many riders targeted by market rumors. Despite having a productive and satisfactory stay with the Noale manufacturer, he has already been mentioned as an option for Honda.
The Spaniard considers it too early to make decisions, but he knows well what he wants for his future and that, for now, the focus is on Aprilia: ‘I haven’t made any decisions, I think it’s too early to really think about it. But of course, I will do what is best for my career, for sure. I am still very fast, I have a lot of speed, and after Austin, I saw much more clearly the speed I can have when things are in place. So, my goal was to understand where I can really maximize my performance and potential. Right now, my commitment is 100 percent with Aprilia, that’s for sure. I am very focused on this weekend, but not only – also on the season, to have a good season. But I still don’t know about the future, I don’t think too much about the future to be honest‘.
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 they think I can find my maximum potential there? It’s difficult, I certainly don’t see it. Maybe in the future, I don’t know; right now it’s hard to think about it. But I think my decision will really be based on pure performance and trying to achieve what I am doing here‘.
Despite understanding that it is early to talk about the future, #12 believes that decisions will not take long: ‘I think before Assen could be a good time, more or less within a month. I think Mugello is a crucial round for several riders, for sure. I believe that before Assen most of us will have a very clear future. This is my opinion, because after this round we have a long break and it is 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 best‘.
Recently, Aprilia Racing’s CEO, Massimo Rivola, mentioned Viñales’ continuity as 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 in 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 am lucky that my future is settled, and also for my children, so I just want to achieve results, it is my only goal‘.
