Jorge Lorenzo to be Vinales's performance coach in 2026: role details

Viñales has announced that Lorenzo will assist him starting next MotoGP season: an important support.

It had already been discussed in recent days and now it’s official: from 2026 Jorge Lorenzo will be Maverick Viñales’ performance coach. The Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider strongly wanted the five-time world champion by his side to relaunch himself next year, putting behind him the physical issues that affected him in 2025. And the statement includes a concept expressed very clearly: "The goal of this collaboration is clear: to fight for the MotoGP World Championship." The ambitions are there, although much will also depend on the level of the RC16, which was not a winning bike last season.

Lorenzo will work alongside Viñales on an ongoing basis in three key areas:

• Physical and athletic preparation, with a strong focus on routines, training, and recovery tailored to current MotoGP demands.

• Strategic coaching, aimed at managing pressure and risk, race consistency, and decision-making in critical moments.

• Technical-sport development, strengthening analysis and weekend planning.

The collaboration will be supported by a team coordinated by Lorenzo and fully aligned with Viñales’ project, with the shared goal of achieving solid and sustainable progress in the medium and long term.

Maverick Viñales explains: "Bringing Jorge on this journey is a huge opportunity to learn and improve in every aspect. His experience and outside perspective will help us take steps forward. I’m starting this new chapter with great motivation and excitement."

Jorge Lorenzo adds: "Maverick has always had natural talent and great speed. My role is to accompany him, share my experience and knowledge, and help him reach his best version. I firmly believe that if we improve in each of the key areas, success will be inevitable."