MotoGP | Vinales renewal: “Aprilia could have done it after Qatar, but it waited”

The attention of the MotoGP rider market inevitably focuses on Ducati and the decision of Pecco’s teammate Baganaia in 2025. Even more so after Thursday at Mugello, in which the first rumors leaked: Jorge Martin would have been chosen to replace Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini.

The eight-time world champion toughened his speech and commented that, although he wants an official bike, Pramac is not an option for him because he does not want to sign for another satellite team as he already finds himself in an independent one. Thus he explained that his options of staying in the team that is dominating the championship are the official team or staying in Gresini… But with a GP25, which could mark the future of Pramac and its exclusive agreement with Ducati, while Yamaha is knocking at his door.

Marquez hasn’t even ruled out the possibility of changing brands and certainly many manufacturers are awaiting the Borgo Panogale manufacturer’s decision. One of these is Aprilia, which now has a vacant seat following the announcement of Aleix Espargaro’s retirement at the end of the season. It is said that Enea Bastianini could land, one of those “penalized” by Ducati’s choice, even more so after the words of CEO Massimo Rivola, who declared that the time may have come to focus on an Italian rider.

However, the Noale manufacturer has yet to close the deal with its second driver. Once he arrived at Mugello, Vinales reiterated the concept expressed already a week ago in Barcelona, ​​claiming that there had been no progress in the conversations in recent days and threw some digs at Aprilia: “We haven’t closed practically anything. I think they had the opportunity to renew me after Qatar, but they wanted to wait. Now I have to think carefully about what I want to do,” he explained to DAZN Spain.

Vinales’ affection towards his current team is not in doubt, but he needs to see results and a package that allows him to consistently obtain performances like the one in Austin, where he dominated the two races of the weekend: “It’s It’s clear that this is a team that I like, I see a lot of potential, but I need a result. At the moment I’m in MotoGP to work on results and this is worth it to me. So, we will have to look carefully at what package can help me bring out my maximum potential. Because when I do that, I get to do things like in Austin, I see myself as being able to do the job very well.”

“We’ll have to see. I am very grateful to Aprilia, I have always said so and obviously this will weigh heavily in the decision. But I also have to think about what my best option will be to try to give everything”, reiterated the Spaniard, without closing any doors.