Tech3 KTM has officially confirmed that Maverick Vinales will miss this weekend's Aragon Grand Prix, with Pol Espargaro once again stepping in as his replacement. The Spanish rider continues to recover from the shoulder injury he suffered in Germany last year, and he has not raced since MotoGP returned from its summer break.
Vinales, a 10-time race winner in the premier class, is currently undergoing treatment for a muscle tear in the injured shoulder, hoping to avoid surgery that would end his season. The team has not given a definitive timeline for his return, but they remain hopeful he can be back for the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano next month.
The news was first reported by Sky Italy over the weekend, and Tech3 has now confirmed it. Espargaro, KTM's test rider, made his racing comeback at Silverstone last time out, finishing 13th in place of Vinales. His experience and solid performance made him the obvious choice to fill in again.
Team boss Nicolas Goyon said: "Together with Maverick and KTM, we have decided that Pol will continue with us in Aragon so that Maverick can continue to focus on his recovery. Pol did a solid job for the team at Silverstone, and his experience means he is well placed to step in again this weekend. The most important thing for us is that Maverick takes the time he needs to recover properly. We are supporting him throughout this process and remain hopeful that we can welcome him back at Misano."
Vinales' absence comes amid a turbulent time in his relationship with KTM, having lost his place on the grid for 2027. During the summer break, there were reports that KTM was looking for a way to sever ties with Vinales effective immediately. However, Vinales denied these reports on social media, and Tech3 CEO Guenther Steiner also confirmed at Silverstone that the Spaniard had not been fired.
With Vinales out, Enea Bastianini will be the sole Tech3 rider at Aragon, while Espargaro will aim to build on his Silverstone performance. The San Marino Grand Prix is scheduled for the weekend of 11-13 September, giving Vinales an extra fortnight to recover. All eyes will be on his progress, as his future in MotoGP this season remains uncertain.
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