Maverick Vinales Returns for 2026 Catalan MotoGP

Maverick Vinales has officially been confirmed to return to MotoGP action at this weekend’s 2026 Catalan Grand Prix with Red Bull KTM Tech3 after missing several recent rounds due to shoulder surgery.

Vinales previously withdrew from the Grand Prix of the Americas at COTA before missing the entire Jerez and Le Mans race weekends. The Spanish rider underwent corrective surgery to remove a damaged screw from his shoulder, which had originally been inserted following an injury sustained in July last year.

Throughout his recovery process, Vinales repeatedly stated that he would not return to racing until he was fully fit physically. Now, after several weeks of intensive rehabilitation, he believes he is finally ready to resume racing.

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“I’m happy to be back and finally returning to racing. The last few weeks have not been easy,” Vinales explained.

“I worked hard every day on my recovery with strong support from Red Bull at the APC, and now I’m coming back in the best possible condition. I feel strong and motivated to get back on the bike,” he added.

Vinales’ return comes as an important boost for KTM Tech3 as the team continues trying to improve the performance of the RC16 package throughout the 2026 season. So far, the Spaniard has yet to score points this year.

The Spanish rider also described Catalunya as the ideal location to make his comeback, given it is both his home grand prix and one of the circuits he knows best from his MotoGP career.

“I want to thank the team for all their support and patience. I couldn’t be more excited to restart at my home grand prix in Catalunya,” Vinales said.

Tech3 team manager Nicolas Goyon stressed that the team’s primary objective throughout the rehabilitation process was ensuring Vinales only returned once he had fully recovered physically.

“We are very happy to welcome Maverick back this weekend. From the beginning, our top priority has been his health and making sure he returned at 100 percent,” Goyon stated.

According to Tech3, Vinales’ experience and speed will remain crucial factors in helping the ongoing development of KTM’s RC16 during the second half of the season.

During Vinales’ absence, his seat was temporarily filled by Jonas Folger at Le Mans. The former MotoGP rider finished 16th in his first grand prix appearance since 2023.

Goyon also praised Folger for his contribution during the French MotoGP weekend, describing the German rider’s performance as valuable under difficult circumstances for the team.