Spanish MotoGP rider Maverick Viñales says he does not regret leaving Aprilia Racing to join KTM. Even though the move surprised many people in the paddock, Viñales believes it was the right decision for his career.

Viñales spent several seasons racing for Aprilia and helped the Italian team become more competitive in MotoGP. During that time he achieved an important milestone. In 2024 he won a race in the United States, which made him the first rider in the MotoGP era to win races with three different manufacturers: Suzuki, Yamaha and Aprilia.

At one point it looked like Viñales could become the leader of the Aprilia project. After the retirement of his teammate Aleix Espargaró, the team needed an experienced rider to guide development. With the arrival of new signing Jorge Martín, many people expected Viñales to play a key role in leading the team forward.

However, the Spaniard decided to take a new path and join KTM instead. Looking back, he says he is happy with that choice and does not feel any regret about leaving Aprilia. According to him, the decision was made because he wanted a fresh challenge and a different environment in which to continue his career.

One thing that did surprise Viñales after the move was seeing engineer Fabiano Sterlacchini change teams. Sterlacchini, who had worked with KTM, ended up joining Aprilia. Viñales did not expect that switch and admitted it was unusual to see someone move in the opposite direction to him.

Despite that surprise, Viñales still speaks positively about his time with Aprilia. He believes the team has strong people, good technology and the ability to fight for victories in MotoGP. His years there helped him grow as a rider and understand the bike better.

Today, Viñales is focused on the next chapter of his career with KTM. He wants to use his experience to help develop the bike and compete at the front of the championship. Even though he has moved on, he says his time at Aprilia will always remain an important part of his journey in MotoGP.