)
Pol Espargaro will once again step in for Maverick Viñales at the Austrian Grand Prix in MotoGP, Tech3 confirmed today. This marks Espargaro's fourth consecutive race weekend filling in for Viñales.
Maverick Viñales has been sidelined since July 12th, when he withdrew from the German Grand Prix in the final laps of the race.
Espargaro, a KTM development rider, is primarily focused on the Austrian manufacturer's new 850cc motorcycle, which is set to debut in 2027, coinciding with the start of MotoGP's new era. This means he is currently testing an 850cc prototype at Mugello today and tomorrow.
Viñales has participated in only eight rounds this season, scoring points in four of them. Tech3 hopes Maverick will be fit to return to the track "before Japan."
Pol Espargaro has scored points in two of the three race weekends he has competed in this year.
&format=webp)
&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)