Red Bull KTM Tech3 have confirmed that Maverick Viñales will miss this weekend’s Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain in Jerez as he continues his recovery after successfully undergoing corrective surgery at the end of March.
The Spaniard took the precautionary decision to withdraw from the US GP in Austin after it was discovered that a screw from an earlier shoulder operation had been displaced. While his recovery continues to progress well, Viñales will not be fit in time to ride at his home race in Jerez.
"It’s obviously disappointing not to be racing at Jerez this weekend," says Viñales. "It’s a huge event for me and the first of my home races this season. I know my body well though and right now the priority is to recover properly and make sure I can come back in the best possible condition for the rest of the season. Everything is moving in the right direction, and the target is to be ready for Le Mans.”
The initial plan had been for KTM reserve rider Pol Espargaró to step in for the Spanish Grand Prix. A familiar face within the Tech3 garage, Espargaró was well placed to take over the bike for the weekend. However, a hand injury sustained in the lead-up to Jerez has left him unable to fulfill reserve duties for the weekend.
Several alternative solutions were explored, but with limited time available to secure a suitable and competitive replacement, KTM and Tech3 have jointly taken the decision to contest the Grand Prix of Spain with just one bike.
While one side of the garage is temporarily quiet, there is still plenty for Red Bull KTM Tech3 to fight for in Jerez. Enea Bastianini heads into the first European round of the season encouraged by the progress made in Austin, where he secured an impressive third place in the Sprint race. With confidence continuing to build, the Italian will now look to carry that momentum through Jerez and into the upcoming European races.
Nicolas Goyon, Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager said: “The most important thing for us is Maverick’s recovery. The gap in the calendar has allowed him valuable time to focus on his rehabilitation and hopefully means he will only miss this one race. He looks to be on track to return for Le Mans, which is very positive. It is also unfortunate that Pol, our reserve rider, picked up an injury during this period, because we know him well and he would have been a strong addition to the team for the weekend in Jerez. With limited time before the event, we evaluated all available options, but ultimately the decision was to focus on running one bike properly for this round.”
Guenther Steiner, Red Bull KTM Tech3 CEO added: “I don’t ask for these situations, but somehow they keep turning up anyway. Of course, there’s a bit of irony in it, but the reality is that this is not how we wanted to arrive in Jerez. First Maverick is recovering, then Pol injures his hand, and suddenly the plan changes very quickly. We have looked at the alternatives, but we also must make sensible decisions that are right for the team and for the wider project. The positive is that Enea comes into this weekend with good momentum after Austin, and that gives us something strong to build on as we head into the European leg of the season.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director said: “It is never an easy decision to line up with one bike, but in this case it is the correct one. Maverick must be given the time and space to recover fully, and unfortunately Pol’s injury removed the most natural replacement option. Together with Tech3 we looked carefully at what was possible for Jerez, but we also have to consider competitiveness and the wider picture for the project. We are confident Maverick is moving in the right direction, and we are equally encouraged by the progress Enea showed in Austin.”