Ducati has rejected the idea that Maverick Viñales already has a MotoGP test rider deal for 2027. Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi says there is no agreement with the Spaniard, no written commitment and not even a developed plan tying him to the position.

The speculation followed a sighting of Viñales and Tardozzi walking together at Motegi, from the offices towards Ducati’s hospitality area. Tardozzi said their relationship is close and extends beyond work, but the meeting was not part of a negotiation. Viñales will not be on the 2027 grid after losing his place with Tech3 and KTM when their relationship broke down over the summer. He believes KTM’s lengthy contract process left him with fewer alternatives in a crowded market.

With five rounds still remaining in the 2026 season, Viñales’ next move is unsettled. He said in Indonesia that he is looking for a project capable of giving him strong motivation, and was unsure whether a testing role would provide it. That makes the Ducati link plausible as a subject of discussion, but not as an agreement already reached.

Ducati has a future vacancy to consider

Ducati’s testing structure will need attention in the longer term. Its current test riders are Nicolò Bulega and Michele Pirro, but Bulega is due to move into a VR46 race seat in 2027. Pirro is 40 and has not competed as a full-time MotoGP rider since 2012. Tardozzi acknowledged that the manufacturer will probably need someone in the future, while stressing that no candidate has been selected and no deal has been prepared or written.

Viñales would bring extensive experience of several MotoGP motorcycles, a profile that could interest a manufacturer looking for recent grand prix knowledge. Yamaha, Honda and KTM have used test riders with that kind of recent experience. The 2027 rules also mean that a test rider will not be able to take part in wildcards, since those appearances have been banned. Viñales could therefore be considered as a technical resource and a possible replacement if a Ducati rider were injured, but Ducati has not committed to him or to anyone else.