)
Maverick Viñales has admitted he spends every spare evening pondering his career path, insisting he is not ready to stop racing and finds little appeal in becoming a MotoGP test rider.
The ten-time premier class race winner will not be on the grid in 2027 following a protracted contract dispute with his current team, Tech3 KTM, which left him feeling unfairly treated. Unlike other riders who have lost their MotoGP seats, the 32-year-old Spaniard is not prioritizing a move to the World Superbike Championship (WSBK). At the same time, he is reluctant to settle for a test rider role, adamant that his competitive fire is still burning.
"I need to think things through carefully. I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of change. Deep down, I haven't given up yet. I have to weigh whether a test rider role is right for me—it has its pros and cons. I think about it every day: how to approach my future and what I truly want. I still want to race. It's difficult and unusual, but I have to think seriously about my next move," Viñales told the media in Indonesia.
Ahead of the Indonesian Grand Prix race weekend, speculation surfaced in Italy suggesting the Spaniard could join Ducati as a test and reserve rider next season. However, the Borgo Panigale outfit firmly denied the rumors. When asked whether a potential year-long hiatus from the grid would hinder a return to the premier class, Viñales replied bluntly: "I don't know, I'm not sure. But I'm not ready to stop being a racer."
Following another injury layoff dating back to the German Grand Prix over a year ago, Viñales returned to action at the Japanese GP. He even admitted he was surprised by KTM's call-up given rumors that he might sit out the remainder of the season. The Spaniard noted that he feels remarkably fresh after competing in just 23 of 38 races since the start of 2025, hoping to channel that conserved energy into making the right call about his future.
"Right now, I am taking a hard look at my options. Nothing is set in stone because I feel I still have so much to offer," said Viñales. "Once I fully recover from the injury, I will have plenty of energy in reserve since my racing schedule has been limited over the past two years. My main priority is to race in MotoGP, not just run test sessions. I need to be confident in what I'm doing to be truly fulfilled. I'm just not sure being a test rider would make me feel like a complete racer," the Spaniard concluded.
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)