After missing the Brno race due to shoulder surgery, Maverick Viñales returned to MotoGP on Friday morning, completing 16 laps in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring. However, the Tech3 KTM rider had to stop his afternoon practice after just six laps.
Viñales spent the remainder of the session resting in the pits with an ice pack on his shoulder, which he injured at Sachsenring. Despite this, the Spanish rider has not ruled out participating in Saturday’s sessions.
Viñales, who was 1.3 seconds slower than leader Marc Márquez in the morning session, commented: “This morning, my shoulders didn’t feel too bad, but by the afternoon they were stiffer with less mobility, making it hard to stay on the bike on the main straight, especially with the wind. It’s important to listen to your body and take the right steps now. My speed is 100%, but every lap I complete helps me recover fully. I’ll assess how I feel tomorrow morning and decide whether to ride.”
Viñales’ teammate, Enea Bastianini, finished 11th on the first day of KTM’s home race, narrowly missing direct entry to Qualifying 2 by just 0.011 seconds. Both riders tested the factory team’s new fairing package.
Bastianini said, “The bike felt quick this morning, and I was close to the other riders, but this afternoon was tougher. We struggle more with front-end management when it’s hot, but I like the new fairing and I’m pleased with the updates we received this weekend. We’ll keep working and see what happens on Saturday.”
Pedro Acosta was the top KTM rider, finishing second behind Márquez in the morning session.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for racing fans as it highlights the resilience of Maverick Viñales, who is pushing through injury to compete, underscoring the determination typical in MotoGP. The introduction of KTM’s new fairing package also signals exciting technical developments that could shake up the competition this season.
