Pol Espargaro to replace Maverick Vinales again at Tech3 KTM

Following his participation in the British and Aragon races, Pol Espargaro will take the wheel for Tech3 KTM in the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix, replacing Maverick Vinales. Vinales is currently in the process of recuperating from the left shoulder injury sustained during a crash during qualifying at the Sachsenring. Since then, his recovery has been a mix of progress and setbacks.

He had to miss several races at the beginning of 2026 and underwent surgery on April 1st to remove a screw from the affected area, which was believed to be contributing to his issues. Despite the surgery, Vinales has yet to return to form, and has struggled to meet expectations since his comeback at Barcelona in mid-May. It was anticipated that Vinales would make a strong comeback following the summer hiatus, but his return has been delayed by both physical issues and a disagreement between KTM and Tech3 regarding his contract.

Recently, Motorsport.com reported that KTM had plans to discontinue Vinales' involvement for the rest of the season. When asked about the situation, Tech3 director Nicolas Goyon stated, "While our main focus remains supporting Maverick's recovery, we are delighted to welcome Pol back with us in Misano. Pol is well-acquainted with the team and has consistently shown his professionalism and dedication in his recent outings this season.

Returning to MotoGP is never straightforward, but Pol brings valuable experience to the table, and we are eager to collaborate with him again in San Marino. We extend our best wishes for a more favorable recovery to Maverick and hope to see him back on the track when he is fully recovered. Espargaro secured three points at Silverstone, placing him 13th, and subsequently finished 16th in Aragon. He continues to refine KTM's innovative 850cc prototype."