The MotoGP rider Pol Espargaro has been appointed by Tech3 to replace the currently injured Maverick Vinales during the Austrian Grand Prix that will take place this weekend. Vinales has not competed since July 12, when he withdrew from the German GP in the last laps.
Through an official statement, Tech3 has confirmed Espargaro’s continuation with the team, which will debut at the Red Bull Ring circuit. In this season, Pol has competed on various occasions, including the races at Silverstone, Aragón, and Misano, and now he will aim to defend KTM’s colors in front of his hometown crowd.
Espargaro, who serves as KTM’s test and reserve rider, will be alongside Dani Pedrosa in the development of the 850 cc motorcycle for the 2027 season. Recently, he has been testing the motorcycle at Mugello, preparing for his next competition.
Vinales’ recovery is taking longer than initially expected, as he has only participated in eight races this year, scoring points in four of them. However, Tech3 remains hopeful that he will return to the track when the championship arrives in Japan.
The team’s director, Nicolas Goyon, has expressed the importance of having Pol in such a significant GP for the brand: ‘Every time he gets on the bike, he seems more comfortable and competitive. We hope to see him race in front of the fans in Austria this weekend.’
Espargaro has scored points in two of the three races he has run so far with Team Tech3.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
