Maverick Vinales has expressed surprise at how well his working relationship with Jorge Lorenzo, his MotoGP performance coach, has developed, especially considering their tense history as rivals. This new partnership officially began after the 2025 season when Vinales’ Tech3 KTM team announced that three-time world champion Lorenzo would take on the role of rider coach.
Both riders were well-known for their strong personalities and previous public disputes during their competitive years in the 2010s. Their past was marked by notable clashes, including accusations and heated exchanges, making their current collaboration unexpectedly successful.
The Origins and Evolution of Their Collaboration
The idea of Vinales working with Lorenzo was initially discussed following Vinales’ win at the 2024 Americas Grand Prix while riding for Aprilia, though the timing was not right to make it happen then. The plan gained momentum last year when Vinales suffered a shoulder injury during qualifying for the German Grand Prix, which created the opportunity for Lorenzo’s involvement.
Vinales explained the development of their partnership, saying,
“For me, it was a common thing. After I won in Austin [in ’24], there was some talk. But I was not able to do it in Aprilia. But after the injury, somehow I felt it was the correct moment to do it.”
He added,
“So, we got in touch and we started this process. But everything was about how the shoulder evolved during the recovery. But it worked good, so we could work very hard from the beginning.”
Despite Aprilia’s role in Vinales’ career at the time, the team did not hinder Lorenzo’s movement into this performance coach position. Family considerations, particularly caring for his young child born in 2024, were a more significant factor in delaying the collaboration. Vinales reflected,
“Absolutely not. Aprilia didn’t block anything. When you incorporate one guy like Jorge, it’s a plus for your team. We know Jorge has a lot of qualities which I’m taking profit from. It was a matter of how I was with my family, because I had my little kid in 2024, so I needed to take care of them and help my wife also.”
He further emphasized,
“Outside of the bike I have a life and sometimes it’s a bit more difficult. But now I have enough confidence, the kids are a bit older, so now it’s much easier for me. So, now I can really be 24 hours [a day] for MotoGP.”
How Lorenzo is Elevating Vinales’ Performance
Vinales has credited his work with Lorenzo for revealing that his previous understanding of his own abilities was incomplete, with the former world champion discovering untapped potential in him. As part of this process, Lorenzo has encouraged Vinales to train under all riding conditions, even when Vinales was reluctant.
“Basically, we work, and then we enjoy it, but we are mostly working,”
Vinales stated.
“Of course, during this winter, Jorge forced me to go out in every condition, even when I didn’t want to go out. But I think this is the key of this relationship, because he’s strong.”
He recalled a specific moment,
“I remember one time the track was really wet, and it was the first time I rode after my injury in the wet. So, I was ready to go home, but I rode.”
“He made me ride, and I think this kind of thing unlocks a lot of potential and this is very important. I think Jorge will bring the intensity I needed outside of the MotoGP bike.”
Lorenzo’s preferred training method includes pushing Vinales to ride 600cc motorcycles on narrow, technical circuits, which Vinales finds especially challenging. He explained,
“They are bikes made to ride fast, and when you start to do technical stuff at lower speeds, it looks like you don’t know how to ride.”
Vinales elaborated on the purpose behind this training style:
“Basically, what we are doing is to have all the skills. Have plenty of skills, and then use what you can use. And this is fantastic because I’m understanding how to slide the bike and how to use the maximum of the rear tyre, which is very important for us in MotoGP. But the key is to have a lot of skills on any type of bike and use those in MotoGP.”
The Broader Impact of the Vinales-Lorenzo Partnership
The partnership between Maverick Vinales and Jorge Lorenzo represents a significant shift in MotoGP dynamics, turning a once-contentious rivalry into a productive working relationship. This alliance illustrates how former champions can positively influence current riders’ careers, leveraging their experience to unlock greater performance.
Given Vinales’ recent progress and renewed focus, this collaboration positions him well for upcoming seasons, possibly reshaping expectations around his competitiveness on the KTM team. Meanwhile, Lorenzo’s transition into coaching highlights a new chapter for the three-time world champion as he shares his insights beyond his own racing career.
