Maverick Vinales seemed set handy KTM its first MotoGP podium of the 2025 season in Qatar – till a post-race tyre stress penalty cruelly demoted him from second to 14th.
The Spaniard’s gorgeous trip for the Tech3 staff was undone by just a few essential laps spent below the minimal tyre stress restrict.
And in line with staff boss Herve Poncharal, the dramatic late-race tempo of Marc Marquez might need made all of the distinction.
Poncharal defined that Vinales responded to a dashboard warning by opening the door for Marquez to cross, hoping to tuck in behind and lift his entrance tyre stress.
“The issue for us was that Marc then pushed at his most and opened a niche,” Poncharal advised Crash.web.
“If Maverick might have been proper on Marc’s exhaust, like Marc was with Alex at Buriram, perhaps we might have been OK.”
The Frenchman added: “We now have to just accept the rule and it’s the identical for everybody. So I’ll by no means shout and complain that it was unfair.
“However sentimentally, it is so tough to swallow.”
Vinales leads, 2025 Qatar MotoGP
“The entire staff is with him on the bike”
The again story to what seemed like being KTM’s first podium of the season is well-known.
After surviving Pierer Mobility’s winter monetary woes, the RC16 undertaking was plunged straight right into a efficiency disaster attributable to vibration and grip points.
With the long-term way forward for MotoGP undertaking nonetheless unclear, each consequence counts, however KTM arrived in Qatar as the one model with no top-five end.
When Vinales, tenth after an ill-advised tender tyre selection within the Dash race, bolted from sixth to 3rd within the opening laps of the grand prix, the Tech3 staff might barely consider their eyes.
“There’s a big effort that goes right into a race weekend,” Poncharal mentioned. “So when your rider is doing what Maverick was doing… The entire staff is with him on the bike, following each sector of each lap.
“Then he crosses the end line in P2, and the staff explodes with pleasure and aid.”
The penalty, whereas technically truthful, struck an emotional chord.
“Our rider has had one of many rides of his life. To demote him is true on the rule aspect, however very laborious on the human aspect,” Poncharal added.
“We’re not robots. It is a very high-level sport… Generally it would look a bit chilly from the surface, however always remember the entire staff has an actual ardour for this sport. We’re at one with our rider on the bike.
“So it was virtually a despair we had been in after the penalty.”
Maverick Vinales
“One thing I’ve by no means seen in my life”
“Usually, the rider is most affected by these sorts of issues, and it’s a must to attempt to cheer him up,” Poncharal continued.
“However Maverick, after all the things, got here again and advised the staff, ‘Hey guys, smile, we did it! Let’s have a good time.’
“The way in which Maverick behaved in that scenario is one thing I’ve by no means seen in my life – and I have been right here for nearly half a century!
“Maverick has had a lot dangerous luck in Texas and Qatar, however nonetheless, he was the one making an attempt to raise the environment. He behaved like an actual star… And he proved he’s nonetheless obtained the identical proper wrist as when he was youthful.
“I’m very proud to have him with me, and I hope we can provide him what he deserves. And after what occurred on Sunday, my motivation, which was already excessive, is multiplied by ten.
“My mission is to provide each riders – Maverick and Enea, no person ought to neglect about Enea – the help they deserve as a result of we noticed on Sunday what’s attainable.
“This race was an enormous increase for all of the KTM riders, to point out them we will combat.”
Vinales, Marquez, Bagnaia, 2025 Qatar MotoGP
Marquez, Bagnaia and Tardozzi reward KTM
A cool-down room video captured Marquez and Ducati Lenovo team-mate Francesco Bagnaia praising Vinales and KTM.
“It was very nice to listen to Pecco and Marc amazed by what Maverick and the KTM had been doing,” Poncharal mentioned. “They talked about the acceleration, the way in which the bike got here out of corners. That’s an enormous increase for all KTM riders.
“We settle for the penalty, however Maverick crossed the road in P2. We all know the efficiency is there as a result of [the low pressure] did not assist us on observe.
“There have been additionally some good phrases from Davide Tardozzi in parc ferme, who mentioned to me: ‘Herve, fabulous! We’d like the opposition.’
“It’s vital for the championship, and even the successful producer, to have some competitors and to be challenged.”
Vinales, Marquez, 2025 Qatar MotoGP
Can Vinales and KTM do it once more?
The large query now’s whether or not Vinales and KTM made a breakthrough or if the celebs aligned completely in Qatar.
The subsequent spherical at Jerez might show pivotal.
“Although the sensation in Texas and on Saturday in Qatar was good, we did not count on that,” Poncharal admitted.
“We all know Maverick loves Texas. We all know Maverick loves Qatar. We all know the bike was good final 12 months in Texas and Qatar final 12 months. Jerez, Le Mans, Silverstone are very totally different circuits.
“So this can be a huge query mark for us additionally. Jerez particularly is nearly the other of the previous two tracks. But when we may be quick there, it will likely be an excellent sign. That’s what we have to see now.”
