Maverick Viñales will sit out this weekend's Aragon Grand Prix as he continues to nurse a left shoulder injury that has kept him off the RC16 since the summer break.
Tech3 confirmed the move, made in agreement with Viñales and KTM, extending an absence that already ran through Silverstone. The 10-time MotoGP race winner first hurt the shoulder in Germany last year, and a minor muscle tear was discovered on top of the existing damage during the break.
Pol Espargaró, an official KTM test rider, will fill Viñales' seat at Red Bull KTM Tech3. Espargaró carries momentum from a solid debut fill-in at the British Grand Prix, where he brought the bike home 13th to score two points.
The decision to bring in Espargaró was made with Viñales' agreement. "Together with Maverick and KTM, we have decided that Pol will continue with us in Aragón so that Maverick can continue to focus on his recovery," team manager Nicolas Goyon said.
The layoff lands at a fraught moment in Viñales' relationship with KTM. He has already lost his grid spot for 2027, and there are reports that KTM was looking to sever ties with him immediately.
A comeback at the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano on September 11-13 is being targeted by the team. This would at least give Viñales the chance to close out what may be his final MotoGP season on track rather than in the pits.
Tech3's lineup is being rebuilt around the 2027 technical era. Bastianini has signed a two-year deal to join Trackhouse Racing on the Aprilia RS-GP alongside Raul Fernandez, while Luca Marini is widely tipped to come across from Honda to partner rookie Senna Agius.
Source: Yahoo Sports