Tech3 KTM rider Maverick Vinales is teaming up with Jorge Lorenzo for the 2026 MotoGP season – here are the details of their collaboration.
Tech3 KTM rider Maverick Vinales has approached Jorge Lorenzo and signed the three-time MotoGP world champion as his performance coach.
After Vinales hinted at the possibility of working with Lorenzo during testing in Valencia on Tuesday this week, he has now confirmed that he has reached an agreement with Lorenzo. The announcement follows a mixed first season for Vinales in KTM’s satellite team.
The 30-year-old Spaniard initially impressed with his quick adaptation to the RC16, most notably at the Qatar weekend in April, when he led for a long time and ultimately narrowly missed out on the podium. However, in the summer, Vinales suffered his first serious injury in his MotoGP career, which began in 2015. Although he made his comeback last weekend at the season finale in Valencia, he had not yet fully recovered from the shoulder fracture he sustained in July when he crashed during qualifying for the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring. “Maverick Vinales is starting a new chapter in his career as an athlete with the signing of Jorge Lorenzo as his performance coach. The goal of this collaboration is clear: to fight for the MotoGP title,” according to a joint statement. Lorenzo will work continuously with Vinales in three key areas: – Physical and athletic preparation with a strong focus on routines, training, and recovery tailored to the current MotoGP requirements.
– Strategic coaching with a focus on pressure and risk management, consistency in racing, and decision-making in critical moments. – Technical and athletic development to improve the analysis and planning of race weekends.
The collaboration “will be supported by a team coordinated by Lorenzo and fully dedicated to Viñales’ project, with the common goal of achieving solid and sustainable progress in the medium and long term.”
“Taking Jorge with me on this journey is a great opportunity to learn and improve in every way,” explains Vinales. “His experience and outside perspective will help us take confident steps forward. I am starting this new stage with great motivation and enthusiasm.”
Lorenzo adds: “Maverick has always had natural talent and great speed. My job is to accompany him, share my experience and knowledge with him, and help him give his best. I firmly believe that we will be successful if we improve in all the important areas.”
Vinales is expected to have made a full recovery by the start of the 2026 MotoGP winter tests in Malaysia in early February. Lorenzo has continued to be a regular presence in the paddock since retiring as a MotoGP rider at the end of the 2019 season. For the past few years, he has been working as an expert for the Spanish broadcaster DAZN.
