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Spanish rider Maverick Viñales will return to action at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix following a three-month injury layoff, the Tech3 KTM team has officially confirmed.
Viñales, a 10-time premier class race winner, has been cleared by medical staff to travel to the Motegi circuit for round 16 of the 2026 MotoGP season, scheduled for October 1–3. It will mark his first competitive start since July 12, when complications from a lingering shoulder injury forced him onto the sidelines after the German Grand Prix. The Spaniard has missed a total of seven rounds across two separate stints this season.
To prepare for his comeback, Viñales completed test laps aboard the KTM RC16 during Pirelli's testing sessions at Austria's Red Bull Ring last week.
"I'm extremely happy to finally announce my return to the track. The last few months have been a long journey, working tirelessly every single day to reach this point. I'm not quite at 100% yet, but we're moving in the right direction and I feel ready to take the next step. In Motegi, the goal will be to make steady progress, assess my physical condition, and regain a good feel on the bike. A special thank you to everyone at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center and the medical staff for all their care and support throughout my recovery. I can't wait to race again," Viñales said.
The Spaniard's fitness struggles trace back to 2025, when he suffered a shoulder fracture during qualifying at the Sachsenring. Following initial surgery and missed races, he entered the new campaign with high hopes, but faced a difficult start in the opening rounds. Corrective surgery followed to remove a loose screw, after which he returned at Barcelona following a three-race absence, though he struggled to match his typical pace.
Given the situation, Viñales opted for another hiatus after the summer break, sitting out the last four races to focus on a full recovery. While not yet back to peak physical form, he intends to use the Japanese GP weekend to rebuild confidence and finish his two-year stint with Tech3 on a high note.
Team manager Nicolas Goyon also expressed his delight at the rider's return.
"We are delighted to confirm that Maverick will be with us in Japan. From the start, our priority has been to support him throughout his recovery and ensure he returns only when completely ready, without any unnecessary pressure. The road was longer than initially expected, but Maverick put immense effort into his rehab, and it's fantastic to see him back on the grid. We know it will take time to adapt after such a long spell out, so we will give him full backing throughout the weekend to help him find his rhythm step by step. It's great for the entire team to have our full line-up back together."
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