Maverick Viñales insists he has no regrets about leaving Aprilia Racing, even though one unexpected personnel move caught him off guard after his switch to KTM.
Viñales ended his time with Aprilia after several seasons with the Italian manufacturer and began a new chapter with KTM. The move came despite his strong role within Aprilia’s project, where he had established himself as one of the team’s leading riders and even became the first MotoGP rider of the modern era to win races with three different manufacturers.
With the retirement of Aleix Espargaró, Viñales appeared set to become a central figure in Aprilia’s future alongside new signing Jorge Martín. However, the Spaniard ultimately chose to pursue a different opportunity, a decision he says he remains comfortable with.
Viñales explained that he does not regret leaving the Italian manufacturer and believes the change was the right step for his career. While he maintains respect for his former team, he is now fully focused on adapting to his new environment and building progress with KTM.
Source: Motorsport.com
One development that did surprise him, however, was the movement of key technical figure Fabiano Sterlacchini. The engineer made a switch between manufacturers that Viñales did not anticipate, highlighting how quickly the competitive landscape in MotoGP can change behind the scenes.
Such changes reflect the ongoing technical battles within MotoGP, where teams continue to recruit top engineering talent in their search for performance gains. Personnel moves are often just as influential as rider transfers in shaping the direction of a project.
Despite the unexpected shake up, Viñales remains confident in his current path. The Spaniard has shifted his focus toward helping KTM strengthen its competitiveness, while Aprilia continues to build its own future with a refreshed lineup and technical structure.
For Viñales, the decision to leave may have closed one chapter of his MotoGP career, but he believes it has also opened the door to new opportunities as the championship continues to evolve.
