Maverick Viñales said he is excited after his first test with the Tech3 KTM team. Viñales revealed that KTM made minimal changes to the bike for his debut, as he chose to try the setup previously used by Pedro Acosta.

“I began the day with no expectations, aiming to keep an open mind,” Viñales told Crash.net. “Right from the out lap, the feeling was positive, and everything came naturally.

“There are still many aspects I need to adapt to and incorporate into my riding style, but the initial feeling was good. We didn’t experiment too much; I just requested Pedro’s setup to familiarize myself with the bike.

“I haven’t reached the bike’s limit yet, so I’m holding back on drawing any conclusions. My focus is on pushing to the limit first, then identifying areas for improvement.

“But so far, I haven’t encountered any barriers. Each time I went out, I kept getting faster.”

Viñales also reflected on the bike’s handling characteristics, adding: “When trying to force the slide, I’m still learning how much front brake I can use in different phases. Fast corners were my main concern, as I’ve been strong in those on previous bikes, which were generally good in that area.

“This KTM, though, feels great in fast corners like Turns 13 and 14. The speed and natural flow through them stood out immediately—it’s impressive.”

Tech3 and Adjusting to the Team

Viñales, who is known for his struggles with race starts despite having strong pace, acknowledged an improvement in this area with KTM’s bike. “Now I understand why I lost so many positions at the start,” he quipped. “The rear device works incredibly well. It lowers smoothly without causing tyre spin, which is fantastic.”

Viñales also praised the supportive atmosphere within the Tech3 team, which he feels will ease his transition. “The vibe is very positive—a real family feeling. The bond between the mechanics is exactly what I need to adapt.

“We didn’t make many adjustments to the bike; I just focused on riding Pedro’s setup until I found speed. I also spent some time with Dani [Pedrosa] and Pol [Espargaró], gaining insights on where to push and where to approach the bike more delicately.

“It was a valuable experience working with them,” Viñales said.