Pol Espargaro to Replace Injured Maverick Vinales at Austrian GP

Tech3 has announced that Pol Espargaro will replace the injured Maverick Vinales at the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, continuing his role as KTM's test and development rider.

Vinales has been sidelined since July 12, when he retired during the German GP. Espargaro's participation at the Red Bull Ring will be his fourth consecutive race this season, following appearances at Silverstone, Aragon, and Misano.

Espargaro has also been involved in the development of KTM's 850cc bike for 2027, alongside testing duties. While Vinales has only competed in eight races this year, scoring points in four, Tech3 remains optimistic about his recovery ahead of the championship's move to Japan. Team manager Nicolas Goyon expressed confidence in Espargaro's performance and experience as they prepare for the home race.