Pol Espargaró Continues with Tech3 for Aragón Grand Prix

Spaniard retains his seat at Red Bull KTM Tech3 for Round 13 as Maverick Viñales continues recovery ahead of a hoped-for return at Misano.

Subscribe to our Instagram channel for the latest info and news!

Red Bull KTM Tech3 has confirmed that Pol Espargaró will continue racing for the team at this weekend’s Aragón Grand Prix, replacing Maverick Viñales as the Spaniard continues his recovery from injury.

After making his MotoGP return at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, Espargaró will once again partner Enea Bastianini for Round 13 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, which takes place at MotorLand Aragón from August 28 to 30.

The experienced KTM test rider stepped in for Viñales at Silverstone and delivered a solid performance, finishing 13th in Sunday’s main race. His result and familiarity with the KTM RC16 have given the team confidence to retain him for another race weekend while Viñales focuses on returning to full fitness.

Viñales, meanwhile, remains under the care of his medical team and continues to work closely with KTM and Tech3 throughout his rehabilitation process. The team is optimistic that the #12 rider will be fit to return for the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, scheduled for September 11 to 13.

Team Manager Nicolas Goyon explained that the decision was made with Viñales’ long-term health as the top priority.

“Together with Maverick and KTM, we have decided that Pol will continue with us in Aragón 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,” said Goyon.

He also stressed that the team is fully committed to supporting Viñales during his recovery rather than rushing his return to racing: “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. Until then, we will focus on Aragón and continue to give Pol and Enea our full support.”

The Aragón Grand Prix presents another valuable opportunity for Espargaró to contribute to the Red Bull KTM Tech3 squad while gathering more race data for KTM. His experience at MotorLand Aragón and extensive knowledge of the KTM package are expected to provide stability for the team during Viñales’ absence.

With Enea Bastianini continuing his adaptation to the KTM machinery and Espargaró bringing valuable race experience, Red Bull KTM Tech3 will aim to secure another positive weekend before potentially welcoming Viñales back for the next round at Misano.

Fans will be keeping a close eye on Espargaró’s second consecutive appearance this season, while hoping to see Viñales make a successful return to the MotoGP grid in September.