Viñales may quit MotoGP if shoulder fails to improve
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 11, 2026
Viñales injury battle
Tech3 KTM rider Maverick Viñales is running out of room to race through the pain. The Spanish rider said his left shoulder injury has become harder to manage, and he is weighing whether he can keep going if the problem does not improve. Viñales has dealt with the injury since a crash at the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring and has already had surgery on the shoulder. He missed four races before returning in Japan, but the comeback has not brought relief. The pain has increased, and he said he is struggling mentally as the shoulder continues to limit him. The Qatar Grand Prix offered another sign of the toll. Viñales finished 13th of 16 starters, a result that fit the difficult stretch he has been living through since the injury first hit. He has also said he may be dealing with compartment syndrome from overusing his right arm, a problem that adds another layer of strain as he tries to keep riding at full pace. For Viñales, the issue is no longer only about discomfort. It is about whether he can race the way he expects to race.
Viñales medical tests
The next step is medical. Viñales will undergo further tests, including an MRI, and those results will shape what comes next for both rider and team. He said he would stop racing if the scans show the shoulder is worse than expected or if doctors cannot fix the problem through more surgery or rehabilitation. That leaves his remaining season in doubt, with his participation in the final rounds at Portimão and Valencia tied directly to what the doctors find. The shoulder has already forced him into one major interruption this year, and he returned only after missing four races. Since then, the issue has kept him from getting back to full strength. He has been clear that he does not want to keep riding if he cannot improve or compete at the level he wants. The medical tests now carry more weight than any result on track. They will decide whether he keeps pushing through the season or shuts it down before the final two rounds.
Viñales and KTM future
The larger picture for Viñales is just as uncertain. His form dropped after a planned move to KTM’s factory team fell through, and he has spent the season trying to regain momentum while managing the shoulder problem. That has left him in a difficult position, with his future tied to both his health and his results. If the tests force him out of Portimão and Valencia, KTM test rider Pol Espargaro is likely to step in for the final two races. That would close the door on Viñales for the run-in and give KTM another option as it waits for clarity on his condition. For now, the rider is still trying to find a path forward. The remaining question is whether more treatment can restore enough strength for him to keep racing. If it cannot, the season may end with a rider deciding that his shoulder and his mind have reached the limit.
