In the world of MotoGP, injuries can drastically alter the trajectory of a season, and this is precisely what former Tech3 MotoGP team owner Herve Poncharal believes happened with Maverick Vinales. He asserts that without Vinales’ mid-season injury, both the talented rider and the KTM team would have achieved significantly better results than they did.
Following a challenging winter where KTM struggled to make substantial improvements to its RC16 amidst a serious financial crisis, Vinales emerged as a beacon of hope for the team at the start of 2025. Early on, he showcased his potential by crossing the finish line in Qatar in a podium position, only to have that achievement overshadowed by a post-race penalty related to tyre pressure.
Vinales’ approach to setting up the KTM bike ultimately provided a valuable guide for his teammates, helping them improve their performance, especially for Pedro Acosta. However, things took a turn for the worse when a crash during the German Grand Prix resulted in a complicated shoulder injury for Vinales, which significantly impacted the second half of his racing season.
Despite Vinales' absence, Acosta emerged as a consistent contender for podium finishes in the latter part of the year. Poncharal expressed that he believes the dynamic between Vinales and Acosta could have led to even greater outcomes for the team had Vinales remained fit to compete. "I don't want to dwell too much on the 'what ifs' because those scenarios are purely speculative," he remarked during the Valencia Grand Prix weekend while reflecting on Vinales’ season.
"But the confidence Vinales had in himself was palpable. He was feeling extremely good on the bike, particularly after the race in the USA before Qatar. He genuinely believed he was on the verge of winning races. Unfortunately, life had other plans for him. The injury we initially thought was minor turned out to be quite significant and lingered much longer than expected. It’s undeniably disappointing, especially since he was the top-performing KTM rider early in the season.
While we always had faith that Pedro would rise back up, I firmly believe that Vinales and Pedro would have pushed each other to reach even higher levels, potentially leading to much improved overall results for KTM."
Ultimately, KTM concluded the season without a single race victory, marking a concerning three-season streak without a win. Poncharal has since stepped down from his role as Tech3 team owner, selling the team to a consortium led by Guenther Steiner, the former head of the Haas Formula 1 team, last summer. Moving forward, Poncharal is set to take on a consultancy role with Tech3 in 2026 as part of the transition process to new ownership.
Lewis, who joined the Crash.net team in August 2024, has previously reported on MotoGP for five years within the Motorsport Network.
