Pol Espargaró is back on the Red Bull KTM Tech3 machine for the Grand Prix of San Marino, marking his third straight substitute appearance. Maverick Viñales is still sidelined with that nagging shoulder injury, forcing Espargaró into the saddle yet again and setting up a brutal stretch for the test rider.
Two Bikes, Two Races, One Week: Espargaró’s Wild Schedule
This isn’t Espargaró’s first rodeo covering for Viñales; he already stepped in at Silverstone and Aragón. He bagged two points with a 13th-place finish in Britain, but just missed out at Aragón, finishing 16th. But Misano is where things truly get wild. The assignment kicks off a punishing stretch that could see him bouncing between two completely different machines and tire packages. Right after Misano, he’s due to test KTM’s 850cc Pirelli-shod prototype at Mugello. Then, it’s straight to the Austrian GP, with another 850cc test scheduled behind closed doors at the Red Bull Ring the Monday after the race. What a grind! If Viñales isn’t ready, Espargaró might get the call again for Austria. Espargaró himself laid out the demand plainly to Crash.net, summing up the constant switch between KTM’s current Michelin-equipped 1000cc RC16 and the 850 prototype with Pirelli tires: “So it [could] be 1000, 850, 1000, 850.” He’s already called out how tricky that adjustment is.
Viñales’ Future in Doubt, Espargaró Stepping Up Big
Maverick Viñales’ recovery from the shoulder injury, first sustained at the Sachsenring last year, is clearly a long haul. He’s already lost his 2027 grid spot and has admitted he doubts he will even continue in the championship. So, Espargaró’s role is critical right now. Team manager Nicolas Goyon was clear: Viñales’ recovery is the number one priority, but he also had high praise for Espargaró. “We are pleased to have Pol with us again in Misano,” Goyon said, adding that Espargaró “knows the team extremely well and has already shown his professionalism and commitment during his last two appearances this season.” Espargaró last raced at Misano in 2022, but he’s no stranger to the track from testing. Whether he lines up for KTM’s home race in Austria depends entirely on how quickly Viñales can build back his strength.
The Misano Grand Prix is just around the corner, and all eyes will be on Espargaró as he tackles this demanding schedule. Will Viñales be back for the Austrian round? Or will Pol continue his incredible, exhausting, two-bike juggle?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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