Pol Espargaro Replaces Maverick Viñales at Tech3 for the British Grand Prix

Pol Espargaro will replace Maverick Viñales at Red Bull KTM Tech3 for this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, as Viñales continues managing the effects of an injury first sustained at the Sachsenring in 2025. The swap comes ahead of Round 12 of the 2026 MotoGP season, after a recent medical finding forced Viñales to step back from racing again.

Why Pol Espargaro Is Stepping In for Maverick Viñales

Viñales has spent the year working through rehab following surgery, with specialists, Tech3, and KTM tracking his recovery. New tests last week turned up a complication that wasn’t previously known: while his supraspinatus has fully healed, doctors found a small tear in his infraspinatus, the muscle responsible for the external rotation strength he’d been struggling to regain. The finding came after a visit to the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre during the summer break, and it was enough to keep him off the bike for Silverstone. “It’s not the best news, as the second part of the season starts now,” Viñales said.

Pol Espargaro’s History Filling In at Tech3

Espargaro isn’t a new face in the Tech3 garage stepping into an unfamiliar situation. He made his premier-class debut with the Red Bull KTM Tech3 squad back in 2014, has contested 70 MotoGP races for the French outfit, and is a 2013 Moto2 World Champion. He also filled in for Viñales once before, during an earlier stretch of the same injury layoff in 2025 — meaning this is a repeat assignment rather than a first-time call-up.

Espargaro said the situation carries mixed emotions given the circumstances, but that the opportunity itself means something to him. “Racing is in my blood. I’ve been racing all my life,” he said, adding that he’ll need a session or two to adjust after spending recent months mostly testing KTM’s RC16 rather than racing it.

What’s Next for Tech3 at the British Grand Prix

Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager Nicolas Goyon confirmed the swap and framed Espargaro as the clear choice given the timing. “Pol has been part of the Tech3 family for a long time,” Goyon said. The team is targeting Viñales’ return at the next round in Aragon, giving him roughly two additional weeks to continue rehab before the question of his 2026 comeback comes up again.

About The Author

Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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