Maverick Vinales admitted that he has regained strength and muscle power following surgery, but he still does not know how long it will take to return to 100%. 

The Tech3 KTM rider underwent an operation to recover a displaced screw from his left shoulder that had been hampering his performances in MotoGP at the start of the season. 

Maverick Vinales undergoes shoulder surgery to remove loose screw

The recovery period forced him to miss races in Austin, Jerez and Le Mans, prolonging an injury saga that began when he crashed during qualifying for last July’s German GP.

As he now prepares to make his comeback with Tech3 KTM at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, Vinales said getting operated on during the season was the right decision.

“It's such a hard moment to stay on the sofa, especially looking at my team-mates going so well,” he said.

“But it's good that we decided to make the second operation because it was really necessary. So taking out the screw and cleaning all the joints was mandatory. If not now, in the summer, so it was a good moment to do it now. 

“Then, in the last three weeks, I mostly lived in the Red Bull APC Centre [in Austria]. We make all the recovery and try to gain all the strength back.”

Asked if he has regained his strength, Vinales added: “Quite a lot, to be honest. I just have one muscle that is getting longer, but it's because they go in with all the machines and everything. They broke the muscle, basically, to go in, and this needs time [to recover]. 

“But I feel good power. I have good power.”

Vinales was optimistic about his prospects for 2026 heading into the new season, having felt that he had made a full recovery over the winter. However, he failed to score a single point across Thailand and Brazil as he struggled with pain, forcing him to withdraw from the US GP after Friday practice.

The Spaniard said he is now in a much better condition physically, although he admitted there are still some limitations.

Asked if this was the best he had felt physically since before the crash, he replied: “In terms of mobility, yes. 

“In terms of power, I work a lot in the winter. Of course, with natural shoulder power, yes, I'm more strong.

“But on the chest and on the back, I still could not really put a lot of load. So, in that area, I'm a little bit less than in the winter. But I think for riding [the bike] it is enough.

“Now we need to see where the deficits are and work on them.”

To prepare for his return, Vinales tested a supermoto bike and could immediately tell the difference.

“Before, I always had something limiting me; going out on the bike and feeling strange. Now I feel normal, which is a good sign,” he said.

Vinales’ future with KTM

Maverick Vinales, Red Bull KTM Tech 3

Before the start of the season, KTM had identified Vinales as a potential replacement for Ducati-bound Pedro Acosta, with the Spaniard being considered to join the factory team alongside the incoming Alex Marquez.

However, a tough start to the season and the subsequent injury layoff have changed the situation, with Motorsport.com reporting earlier this month that current VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio has agreed terms to take the seat originally earmarked for Vinales.

That means that Tech3 remains his only option to remain within the KTM stable, with the French team now likely to extend its relationship with the Austrian marque into MotoGP’s 850cc era.

Vinales stressed that it was important for him to make a full recovery as quickly as possible to continue racing for KTM next year.

“My situation is that I still have one more year on my contract. KTM has the right to renew,” he said.

“I have to wait and see. Obviously, our main target and, also from KTM’s side, is to see if I recover. Because if I don't recover, I can be the best guy in the world [and still don’t have a seat]. This is business and this is racing. But if I recover, then it's another story.“

He added: “The relationship we have is really good with KTM. I mean, especially with Aki [Ajo].

“They know clearly what I can do. They see that on the data every single day. 

“But at this moment, I'm injured. I'm a racing horse, but if I'm injured, I cannot pretend to be pretty. I need to work.

“I have to recover. And then when I recover, I have the power to say ‘now’. 

"But if I am like this…two weeks ago, I could not hang my arm like this. [So if it stays like this], they [will] say, ‘well, maybe we have to find another plan’.

“But this is totally normal. I totally understand. And now it's time to work, to come back, and show, as I showed them last year, that even with the bike [not performing well] you can be there.

“So this is my plan, to recover and then ride 100%.”

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Alberto Puig to step down as HRC team manager in 2027, take on advisory role

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Alberto Puig will step down as team manager of Honda's factory squad at the end of the current MotoGP season to become an advisor to the Japanese manufacturer.

The news comes less than a week after it emerged that Davide Brivio, currently team principal at Trackhouse and previously a senior executive at Yamaha and Suzuki, will leave the American outfit at the end of the year to join HRC from 2027.

However, Motorsport.com understands that the role Honda has assigned to Brivio will not be that of team manager, but instead be more closely related to marketing and commercial activities.

"After almost a decade as team manager for Honda HRC’s factory MotoGP team, Alberto Puig will take up a key advisory role for Honda HRC from 2027," read a statement from Honda.

"Honda Racing Corporation will continue to utilise Alberto Puig’s four decades of grand prix racing experience as the 59-year-old Barcelona-native transitions to a new role within Honda HRC.

"Appointed team manager of Honda HRC’s factory team in 2018, Puig guided the squad to back-to-back triple crowns. The new role will see Puig continue to assist Honda HRC management and staff with a number of tasks across all of Honda’s two-wheeled racing activities.

"As HRC advisor, Puig will continue to help shape HRC’s youth development programmes while simultaneously bolstering Honda’s efforts in the MotoGP and WorldSBK championships by supporting management staff and riders by assessing the overall picture of Honda HRC’s two-wheeled activities."

Puig, 59, succeeded Livio Suppo in the role he has held since 2018. The Spaniard’s connection with Honda has always been particularly strong, both during his career as a rider and after his retirement in 1997 following the serious crash he suffered at Le Mans in 1995, which left his left leg badly injured.

Luca Marini, Honda HRC

Earlier that same year, in Jerez, the Barcelona native had celebrated his first victory in the premier class — then the 500cc category.

After hanging up his leathers, he took on several roles linked to the world championship, often working alongside Dorna, promoter of the series. He was director of the popular Movistar-backed development cup that helped produce stars including Dani Pedrosa, whose manager Puig later became.

He also played a key role in the creation of Honda’s talent development cups, a position he still holds today.

“I first stepped into the world championship paddock in 1987 and since then I have been a racer, worked with young riders, a rider manager and a team manager – always with Honda," said Puig.

"During this time, I have experienced many moments, positive and negative, all of which have given me valuable knowledge on how to work with riders, people and different situations.

"It’s been a life of leading from the front and now I feel my skills are best suited to look at the overall picture. I am looking forward to using my experience in this new opportunity to help Honda HRC, its riders and its staff to grow and face all the challenges and successes which racing presents.”

Honda is expected to announce a replacement for Puig in the coming weeks.

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