Pol Espargaró: 'Viñales is Struggling, but Still Far From His Full Potential'

Pol Espargaró will replace Maverick Viñales at KTM Tech3 for this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The decision came after Viñales was deemed not fully recovered from injury, prompting Espargaró to step in on short notice.

Espargaró's return to MotoGP is bittersweet. "It's nice to be back because I love racing, but it's clear that every time I've come back it's because someone got injured, and that's not nice," he said. He revealed he got the call last week from Pit Beirer and Aki Ajo, then flew to England after testing the 850cc bike at Mugello.

Despite a hectic schedule, Espargaró insists he is ready. "I don't have full mobility in my hand, but I tested the 850cc and feel good. I don't think it will be a problem," he stated. He also understands Viñales' decision to race despite not being fully fit, as he has been in the same position before.

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"I've been in his shoes. I came back racing weak and knew results wouldn't be good, but I still tried. Maverick is clearly struggling, but he's still far from his full potential," Espargaró added. He believes last year's injury is still affecting Viñales' performance.

Regarding his own future, Espargaró admits the situation is complicated. "There's no good ending. If you don't race, people forget; if you race injured and do badly, people don't want you. It's different from team sports," he explained. He also noted that Viñales' performance this season is "still light-years from what he's capable of."

For this weekend, Espargaró aims for a cautious start. "I come from hot Mugello, now cold Silverstone with Michelin tires. I don't want to make a big mistake in FP1," he said. He plans to build confidence gradually.

Beyond racing, Espargaró is also involved in KTM's 850cc development. "The project is still very early. Pirelli tires are evolving, and we have to adapt. It's a huge challenge for all manufacturers, not just KTM," he said. He also predicts a major shake-up next year, where Moto2 riders could have an advantage because the 850cc riding style is closer to Moto2.

As reported by Motosan, Espargaró confirmed he is only here for one race at Silverstone, while waiting for Viñales' recovery. "Hopefully Maverick returns soon," he concluded.