Maverick Vinales has withdrawn from the United States MotoGP at Circuit of the Americas following Free Practice 1.
The Tech3 KTM rider, who finished 13th in the session, continues to suffer pain from the left shoulder injury sustained at Sachsenring last July.
Surgery was required, with Vinales forced to back out of an initial return in Austria, then stepping down again after struggling for strength at Barcelona, Misano and Motegi.
It had been hoped that the winter break would allow a full recovery.
However, alongside technical struggles with the latest RC16 – where he has chosen a different configuration to the other KTM riders – Vinales revealed that his shoulder has not improved during the opening rounds.
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“On the right-hand corners, I’m at the same level or even better, but on the left I lose a lot,” Vinales said ahead of the Austin weekend. “There can be only one reason for that, and we need to check why [the shoulder is not healing].”
Screw loose, minor surgery
A Tech3 statement after FP1 at COTA explained that a ‘displaced’ screw from last year’s surgery is causing the shoulder issues and that Vinales will now undergo a ‘minor’ surgical procedure.
‘Maverick has been experiencing pain and limited power in his left shoulder and, following investigations earlier this week, it was discovered that a screw fitted after his Sachsenring injury last year has become displaced.
‘He will now travel back to Europe to undergo a minor procedure to remove the screw, with the intention of being fit to return for the Grand Prix of Spain.’
Maverick Vinales, 2026 US MotoGP.
© Gold and Goose
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Since sustaining the injury, Vinales has scored just three points, courtesy of a 13th-place finish in Barcelona.
The postponement of the Qatar Grand Prix means that Vinales has until 24-26 April to recover in time for the the opening European MotoGP round at Jerez.
KTM test rider Pol Espargaro, who replaced Vinales during last year’s injury absence, is present in the USA for TV duties at DAZN but it appears Tech3 are now down to one bike for the remainder of the weekend.
Tech3 team-mate Enea Bastianini was 14th fastest in FP1 at COTA, a session led by factory KTM rider Pedro Acosta.
Vinales is a former COTA winner, claiming a double victory from pole position at the 2024 event for Aprilia.
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