Viñales likely to end MotoGP career due to health problems

Spanish rider Maverick Viñales, who has competed in MotoGP, the premier class of motorcycle road racing's world championship, since 2015, is likely to end his career in the class soon. He has no contract with any team for the 2027 season, and his shoulder injury and its effects raise doubts over whether he will be able to take part even in the upcoming rounds in Portugal and Valencia, which are expected to be his last.

An injury that has lingered for a year

Viñales sustained the shoulder injury in a crash at the German Grand Prix last year and has been dealing with its effects throughout this season. He underwent surgery early in the year, and after the summer break he missed four races when a muscle tear was discovered at the site of the injury.

Last weekend in Qatar, he admitted he had been close to withdrawing from Sunday's race because he could not fully control the motorcycle. He nevertheless finished 13th among 16 starters. The rider tried to compensate for the weakness in his shoulder by using his right arm, which led to arm overload.

"Very hard. I had to use my right arm a lot, and arm overload started to appear, but I'm happy that I finished the race and kept a good pace, which I didn't really expect," Viñales said. This week he will see a doctor for tests to find out why his condition is not improving.

After Saturday's sprint in Qatar he was already desperate. "There's no point continuing like this; I'm only hurting myself mentally," the rider said. He admitted he does not know whether it is better to stop completely or keep riding without a goal, and said he would like to stop and get back to 100%, although he doubts that will happen this year.

In an earlier interview, Viñales said he has kept competing despite his health problems because of the terms of his KTM contract, under which he is not paid for rounds he misses through injury.

Career record

Viñales has contested exactly 200 races in the MotoGP class. Since 2015 he has won ten races, taken 35 podiums and started from pole position 15 times. He has represented the factory teams of Suzuki, Yamaha and Aprilia, and finished third in the overall standings twice, in 2017 and 2019. His last win came in early 2024, and he has not finished in the top three since.