Maverick Viñales Blames Bike Understeer for Last‑Place Sprint Finish

**Maverick Viñales** finished last in the German MotoGP sprint on 5 July 2026, trailing race winner Marc Márquez by 31 seconds and blaming severe front‑end under‑steer for the poor result.

During the 15‑lap sprint, Viñales struggled to turn the bike, especially on new tyres. He reported a “really low front grip” that left him unable to carry speed through the corners. A mistake on lap 6 let Cal Crutchlow pass, and another error on lap 12 added seconds. By the chequered flag he was 15 seconds behind teammate Enea Bastianini, who finished 14th, and eight seconds adrift of Crutchlow.

Viñales said the bike felt worse as the Sachsenring gained grip. When the surface was slick, the bike performed adequately, but on the improving track it became increasingly under‑steered. He described “a lot of shaking” and an inability to keep full throttle on the downhill, forcing him to brake late and miss corners repeatedly.

The Spaniard is still recovering from a shoulder injury sustained at the Sachsenring a year ago. When asked if his physical condition was the issue, he answered that the bike was the main problem. He pointed out that in slower corners, where only braking and opening the throttle are required, his pace matched the field, indicating his fitness was not the limiting factor.

Despite the disappointing sprint, Viñales remains focused on the remaining races. He stated, “I already understand that I’m out of MotoGP, so I would like to change the chapter, come back from the summer break at the maximum and try to enjoy the last races at the maximum level.” He aims to return strong after the break, without needing “clear the air” talks with KTM.

Viñales qualified ahead of only LCR stand‑in Cal Crutchlow, highlighting the difficulty he faced with the bike. His qualifying position foreshadowed the sprint struggle, as the front‑end issues persisted throughout the race.

The rider’s candid assessment of the bike’s shortcomings may influence team decisions ahead of next season. By openly discussing the under‑steer problem, Viñales provides valuable feedback that could shape development work for the Tech3 outfit. His determination to finish the season strongly suggests he will keep pushing for better results, even if a contract extension remains uncertain.