P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Maverick Vinales cuts Valencia MotoGP short to focus on 2026: “It was quite smart”
Maverick Vinales is focused on contributing to KTM’s early preseason testing for the 2026 MotoGP season following a challenging year due to injury.
After missing races in the latter part of 2025 due to a shoulder injury, Vinales returned to racing at the Valencia finale, where he retired early to prioritize his physical condition for the upcoming test.
Despite feeling motivated during the race and closing in on competitors, Vinales chose to avoid unnecessary risks to prepare for the future.
He plans to approach the upcoming test cautiously, aiming to complete shorter runs to avoid complications from his injury.
Vinales aims to provide valuable feedback to KTM during the test while focusing on improvements in braking and overall grip on the RC16 bike.
