Maverick Vinales has admitted that he once turned down a contract offer from the factory Ducati MotoGP Team.
In a recent interview, Maverick Vinales discussed his MotoGP career, from leaving Yamaha to a major contract offer that he regrets turning down.
The now Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider admitted that at the end of the 2018 MotoGP season, he had the option to make a bombshell move away from Yamaha to Ducati.
After two seasons in the Movistar Yamaha garage, the Spaniard was offered a two-year deal from the Italian manufacturer to replace the departing Jorge Lorenzo.
"I had received an offer from the factory team for 2019-2020 as Dovizioso's partner," Vinales revealed in an interview with AS.
"I trusted the people who managed me and said no. It was a big mistake.
"Would I have won the title? I have no idea. Things happen for a reason, maybe I would have fallen and I could not race anymore."
Vinales ultimately spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with Yamaha, during which time he won three races and featured on seven further podiums.
The 30-year-old also revealed that looking back on his career, he wishes he had stayed with Yamaha rather than leaving for Aprilia when he did.
"I left Yamaha in 2021, when I could have had a valid contract until 2022," he explained.
"I gave up 17 million euros, the Monster sponsor, and other things. With Aprilia, however, it was different. Looking back, I'd stay with Yamaha, because I would've achieved more results.
"The only year I hadn't won anything in those colours was 2018, since the team followed Rossi's instructions."
Vinales' career decisions have led him to be a factory-backed KTM rider for the 2025 MotoGP World Championship.
During his debut season on the RC16, he has experienced mixed levels of success. Vinales featured on the podium at the Qatar Grand Prix, but had it taken away from him due to a tyre pressure penalty.
However, he has since shown podium pace at Jerez, Le Mans, Mugello and Assen. The Spaniard himself believes that his 'time will come' to feature on the podium as a KTM rider.
