Rumours are swirling that Maverick Vinales’ high-profile partnership with Jorge Lorenzo isn’t off to the best start, adding to what has already been a rough opening stretch for the Aprilia rider.
Vinales, who joined Tech3 KTM for the 2025 season, will have his teammate confirmed later this month. If Pedro Acosta chooses not to accept KTM’s offer, there’s a good chance that Toprak Razgatlioglu could step into the seat.
Maverick Vinales and Jorge Lorenzo’s early partnership is facing questions
Vinales, who brought in three-time MotoGP champion and former rival Lorenzo as his coach, hasn’t seen any immediate improvement. In fact, his form has dropped off compared to the same stage last year when he was fully fit.
Spanish outlet SPORT cited ‘several sources’ saying the partnership has hit a rough patch. Questions also surfaced about why Lorenzo wasn’t present in Vinales’ garage during the Brazil round.
The Tech3 rider explained that bringing Lorenzo out to Brazil was too costly, adding that his focus is now on working more closely with his engineers since the season has begun.
Lorenzo isn’t expected at this weekend’s Americas Grand Prix either, but if he misses the Spanish GP at Jerez—a race he usually attends—it could signal a bigger issue within their partnership.
Neil Hodgson’s early call on Lorenzo and Vinales split gaining traction
KTM insiders predicted that Vinales would win a race before Acosta this year, but they were immediately proven wrong as the youngster took victory in the Thailand Sprint.
Lorenzo, meanwhile, had a friendly wager with Acosta’s manager, Albert Valera, that Vinales would finish higher in the standings. That bet is already looking like it might not go his way.
Acosta has opened the season with 42 points from the first two rounds, sitting third in the standings. In contrast, Vinales is one of just four riders yet to get on the board.
Earlier this month, Neil Hodgson suggested that Lorenzo and Vinales might part ways before Jerez. At first glance, it seemed like an overreaction to one poor weekend in Buriram, but as time goes on his viewpoint seems to be holding more weight among observers.