Viñales ruled out of Misano as Espargaró steps in again

Maverick Viñales will sit out the San Marino Grand Prix scheduled for 11–13 September, extending his recovery period and leaving Tech3 to rely once more on Pol Espargaró for the 14th round of the 2026 MotoGP season. Espargaró returned to the team at Silverstone and then competed at Aragón, and he will again take charge of the RC16 next weekend at Misano while Viñales continues rehabilitation.

Team manager Nicolas Goyon said the priority remains supporting Viñales, but expressed confidence in Espargaró’s contribution. He highlighted the Spaniard’s familiarity with the team and his professionalism during recent outings, noting that returning to MotoGP is never straightforward. Goyon added that Espargaró brings valuable experience and that the squad is eager to work with him again in San Marino. He also wished Viñales steady progress in his recovery, stressing that the team hopes to welcome him back on track once he is fully ready.