New Scan, New Diagnosis
Maverick Viñales will miss the British Grand Prix at Silverstone after medical examinations conducted during the summer break uncovered damage that had gone undetected for more than a year. Tests showed that while the supraspinatus — the muscle that had been the focus of treatment since Viñales' crash at the Sachsenring in June 2025 — has now fully healed, a small but significant tear in the infraspinatus was identified only last week. Red Bull KTM Tech3 announced the news on 4 August via an official press release, confirming that reserve rider Pol Espargaró will take the #12 RC16 for the British Grand Prix weekend of 7–9 August at Silverstone.
Viñales explained that he had spent much of the summer break trying to understand why he was not regaining full strength in the external rotation of his left arm, even as internal rotation showed what the team described as "significant improvement over the last few months." The infraspinatus finding provides a clear medical target for the first time. Viñales said: "We're now working on the best recovery plan. It's not the best news, as the second part of the season starts now."
Espargaró: 'Racing Is in My Blood'
Pol Espargaró is far from a stranger in the Tech3 garage. The Catalan veteran made his MotoGP debut with the French outfit in 2014 and racked up 70 premier-class starts for the team across two stints before progressing to the factory KTM squad and later Aprilia. Now serving as KTM's official test and reserve rider, Espargaró had already substituted for Viñales during an earlier injury-enforced absence in 2025, making him the trusted and ready-made choice. He did not hide his enthusiasm: "Racing is in my blood. I've been racing all my life, and I miss it so much, so this is a great opportunity for me too."
Team Manager Nicolas Goyon was measured about the timeline: "We hope to see him back on the bike at the next race in Aragon." The Aragón Grand Prix, scheduled for late August, gives Viñales roughly three weeks between the Silverstone round and his hoped-for return. No clinical guarantee was attached to the statement.
The Timing Could Not Be Worse for the Championship Fight
The British Grand Prix serves as the opening round of what is effectively MotoGP's second half, and the timing of Viñales' withdrawal could not be more pointed. Jorge Martín (Aprilia) leads the World Championship with 208 points, with Trackhouse Racing's Ai Ogura 14 points behind and Marc Márquez (Ducati) a further four back. Only 24 points separate the top five riders — the closest title fight at this stage of the season in years.
Viñales had accumulated six points across the first eleven rounds — a modest haul that reflects how heavily the shoulder issue has weighed on his second half of 2025 and his full 2026 campaign. Espargaró will contest the race as a substitute and will not affect Viñales' own championship standing; the focus for the team at Silverstone becomes gathering technical data and development kilometres on a track that, with its long sweeping corners and demanding traction zones, traditionally suits the KTM RC16's characteristics.
The Injury That Keeps Giving
The Sachsenring crash in June 2025 triggered surgery focused on the supraspinatus, but the impact appears to have caused broader soft-tissue damage than the initial diagnosis captured. The infraspinatus tear's discovery now suggests the shoulder has been compromised since that German weekend — context that reframes Viñales' entire 2026 campaign.
Viñales' contract with KTM runs through the end of 2026, and the team issued no suggestion of any change in Tuesday's press release. If the Aragón return materialises he will have missed just a single round, leaving eleven Grands Prix in which to contribute. Espargaró's first flying lap in anger arrives Friday morning at 11:45 local time at Silverstone.