Maverick Viñales Confirms Departure from Aprilia to Join KTM’s Tech3
End to Win with Aprilia
Maverick Viñales has expressed his satisfaction with his decision to leave Aprilia at the end of the season and join KTM’s Tech3 team. He revealed that he had been under a lot of pressure for five years, which influenced his decision to make a change.
Win with Four Brands
Viñales will be the fourth rider to leave Aprilia to join a different brand, a fact he acknowledged but didn’t seem too concerned about. "I think it will be a consequence of the bigger goal," he said.
Why Change Aprilia for KTM
The Spaniard revealed that he had been feeling restricted at Aprilia, with limited freedom to make decisions. He wanted to have more control over his career and his results, which is something he believes KTM’s Tech3 team can offer.
Everything Very Thought Out
Viñales emphasized that his decision to leave Aprilia was not taken lightly. "I would have liked to wait until July, to be calmer, to spend the summer calmly, but no, everything has been very explosive," he said.
Breakup with Aprilia
Despite his gratitude towards Aprilia, Viñales is not ashamed to admit that he has moved on. "No, I’m not ashamed, this is work and they have shown that. In the end, it’s a business. I’m not ashamed, obviously," he said.
Influence of the Signing of Jorge Martín
The signing of Jorge Martín by Aprilia could have potentially kept Viñales at the team, but he has insisted that his decision was made long before that. "In fact, the fact that they signed Martín could have been an incentive to stay, to make a duo with Martín and, really, go for everything," he said.
When You Change Your Mind
Viñales believes that his win in Austin showed him that he has the potential to do more and that he should not be satisfied with just winning. "That’s when I started to think, to open more doors, to try to understand where to go. To be honest, it’s been one of the most thoughtful decisions I’ve made in my life," he said.
Option to Stay with Martín
Despite being offered a chance to stay at Aprilia with Martín, Viñales chose to join KTM instead. He has no regrets about his decision and is looking forward to the new challenge. "I knew perfectly well that I had my place at Aprilia, regardless of whether Martín or someone else came," he said.