Aprilia is still waiting to complete its lineup for the 2025 MotoGP season. The Italian brand has already confirmed Aleix Espargaró’s replacement, which will be none other than his good friend Jorge Martin.
A situation that was unblocked on the occasion of the last Italian Grand Prix, when everything seemed to indicate that the Spaniard would be chosen by Ducati for its official team, but the tables were turned under the pressure of Marc Marquez, causing the Borgo Panigale team to ultimately opt for the eight-time world champion.
Between Sunday afternoon and Monday, the Noale manufacturer closed the agreement with the current leader of the general classification, who joined them on a multi-year contract. However, it remains to be seen whether his teammate will be Maverick Vinales or whether there will be a twist.
In fact, on the occasion of the Catalan Grand Prix, Massimo Rivola, CEO of the Venetian brand, declared that the Spanish driver was “confirmed”, but Viñales himself denied it, first in Montmeló, saying that he did not yet have a contract but “doors open”, so he had to wait a while.
Maverick Vinales, Aprilia Racing
Photo by: MotoGP
And then at Mugello, where he was even more frank about his contractual situation: “We haven’t closed practically anything. I think they had the opportunity to renew after Qatar, but they wanted to wait. And now I have to think about what I want to do” .
The Roses rider doesn’t hide that he is very grateful to Aprilia and that this will weigh on his decision, but he wants to measure his steps carefully to find an option that will allow him to aim for the maximum. Meanwhile, the Italian team is still trying to find an agreement with him, as Rivola reiterated this weekend at the Aprilia All Stars, the brand’s traditional annual celebration, which is taking place at the Misano circuit.
When asked if Vinales will stay and what will happen regarding his desire, already expressed, to have an Italian rider, Rivola was clear: “We are always consistent and correct with our riders. Maverick is our priority, but weddings it splits two, and we have no intention of forcing it,” he said, in a statement reported by GPOne.
“If, as I hope, he wants to stay with us, we will be happy. Otherwise, we will move on the market. An Italian driver would be a possibility, but we will also have to see if Miguel Oliveira will make that last leap that he is still missing”, he said. concluded, referring to the Portuguese, who this year has a 2024 RS-GP in the satellite team, Trackhouse Racing. Material that Raul Fernandez also expects to receive in the near future.
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