KTM said Maverick Vinales, a 10-time Grand Prix winner, can recover from his shoulder setback and still establish himself as a "second leader" alongside Pedro Acosta, a KTM rider.
Vinales withdrew from the US Grand Prix after severe pain when a screw inserted in his left shoulder following his Sachsenring injury came loose, and he had failed to score points at Buriram and Goiania earlier this season.
KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer said pre-season testing showed Vinales was pain-free and MRI scans indicated a healed ligament, but the team later found the screw had started to move. Beirer described Vinales as unlucky and said KTM still believes in him.
KTM had eyed a 2027 factory promotion for Vinales alongside Alex Marquez, a KTM rider, but after Vinales' early struggles the manufacturer asked his management for more time before finalising long-term plans and said it was not satisfied with results from Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini, both KTM riders.
This summary is based on coverage by Motorsport.
Read the full article at Motorsport.
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