Photo: Rob Gray (Polarity Photo)
Pol Espargaró will step in for Maverick Viñales at Australian and Malaysian rounds
Pol Espargaró will replace Maverick Viñales at the upcoming Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix as the Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider continues to recover from a shoulder injury. Espargaró, KTM’s official test rider, returns to racing for the third time this season, hoping to support his team and continue developing the bike while Viñales focuses on healing.
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Pol Espargaró will replace Maverick Viñales for the Australian Grand Prix and Malaysian MotoGP races. Viñales and his team decided that he should take more time to recover from a shoulder injury he suffered during his crash at the Sachsenring. His left shoulder has been giving him problems for several weeks, and both he and the team agreed that resting now will help him return stronger before the end of the season.
This will be the third time Espargaró steps in for Viñales this year. He also replaced him earlier in the season in the Czech Republic and Hungary. As KTM’s official test rider, Espargaró has been very busy helping the team develop the bike. He mentioned that he really likes the Phillip Island track in Australia, even though it has been a while since he last raced there.
Espargaró said that filling in for an injured teammate is never something he enjoys, but he wants to do his best to help the team. He added that Viñales has been trying very hard to continue racing and that he hopes this break will help him recover faster. Espargaró also said he is happy to return to his Tech3 family and will focus on supporting the team and improving the bike. He mentioned that he really likes the Phillip Island track in Australia, even though it has been a while since he last raced there.
The team management has supported Viñales’ decision to step back. They said that although his recovery has been going well, the recent races have been too close together, making it hard for him to rest properly. Viñales has been experiencing pain and limited movement in his shoulder since the crash, and doctors have advised him to take a few more weeks off. With a short break after Malaysia, he should have more time to get fit again before the final races in Portugal and Valencia.
Espargaró’s previous substitute appearances were positive, and he even managed to score top-ten finishes. His experience and close work with the KTM engineers will be valuable for the team during these races. Both upcoming rounds will be tough, but Espargaró is ready to give his all.
