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After finishing the 2024 championship in seventh place overall, Maverick Vinales raises the bar for his first season under the KTM label and makes no secret of his ambitions in spite of the manufacturer's well-known financially delicate situation.
"This winter I have tried to work a lot to improve myself so that I will be in top form already by the time the championship starts. In today's MotoGP it is a must to learn quickly, and I will have a lot to learn about the bike. It will be interesting and stressful at the same time," he said.
The first contact with the RC16 that took place at Montmelo in November was positive. "The feedback I got was in line with expectations. I liked the engine and the brakes, but especially the position on the bike that made me feel immediately comfortable. I know I'm competitive on the flying lap, but I need to get stronger," he admitted.
Helping him once again will be chief technician Manu Cazeaux, now his shadow and trusted man brought to the Austrian team from Noale after a first collaboration in Suzuki. "It was crucial to bring him with me. He knows my style and we understand each other perfectly. He knows how to intervene and in this first period with KTM we worked very well together," were his words.
Called to answer whether what he is about to face will be his toughest challenge the Spanish rider had no doubts: "Although I still have to understand the electronics and the operation of the automatic rear lowering device coming from a bike that had it manual, everything so far has seemed very natural, so I would say that the transition from the Aprila to the KTM has been easy, I am more prepared and the bike is more in line with what I am looking for. As for the Tech3 team, it's familiar to me having raced there when I was tied to Yamaha, plus it's a very quiet environment, so I'm happy with everything."
For now, everything seems to be going great despite the major debt incurred by the brand. "I personally am betting on this manufacturer, so as a result my commitment is maximum. Everyone here is aiming to win and 2025 started in the best way with the successes in Supercross and the Dakar, so we can only push hard and repeat the result in MotoGP. The only thing I regret is having to wait two months before getting back on the bike. Now I'm really anxious," he confessed.
During the break, there was time for Maverick to make a foray to Jerez where test riders Espargarò and Pedrosa were testing. "It was important to be there to hear their comments. The good thing is that they turned out to be similar to mine," he declared, "For the rest, I don't know how fast the KTM can be. In official testing we will be able to get an idea. Usually making up a few tenths is complicated. In any case, all four of us will push hard to raise the level. Acosta and Binder have experience with the bike and Bastianini is a competitive rider. However, the mentality is the right one, on the attack, and having a test team that has our backs is a help. As for me, it will be the first time I won't have to develop the bike. I will finally be able to focus on me."
The 30-year-old will enjoy Pedrosa's tips. "Dani has been an idol of mine and it is important to have him close. He has already given me some tips on how to improve my style, which is why I have worked a lot this winter. For example, he helped me understand that if you enter the corners well, you are already in good shape because compared to the Aprilia he uses the rear brake differently," he revealed before dwelling on his goals.
"I have proven to be fast under any circumstances and on all bikes, so my ambition can only be the maximum result. The dream is to win with four different brands? If that were to happen, it would be nice," he concluded.
