Maverick Viñales will miss the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez as he continues recovery from shoulder surgery to correct a displaced screw, whereas his intended replacement, Pol Espargaró, is also sidelined with a hand injury, forcing Red Bull KTM Tech3 to field only one bike for the weekend.
The decision means Enea Bastianini will carry the team’s hopes alone in the first European round of the 2025 MotoGP season, entering the race with momentum from a third-place finish in the Austin sprint. Viñales, who withdrew from the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin after scans revealed the complication from his prior surgery, said the situation is disappointing but necessary to ensure a full return. “It’s obviously disappointing not to be racing at Jerez this weekend,” he said. “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 approach 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.”
Team officials confirmed Viñales underwent successful corrective surgery at the complete of March and is progressing, but not quickly enough to be fit for the April 24–26 event. His absence marks the second consecutive race he has missed, following his withdrawal from Austin. The timing is particularly sensitive as Jerez is his home Grand Prix and the first of three Spanish rounds on the 2025 calendar.
Initially, the team had planned for Espargaró, a familiar face in the Tech3 garage and experienced test rider, to step in as Viñales’ replacement. But, Espargaró sustained a hand injury in the lead-up to the event, ruling him out. With little time to secure another viable option and after evaluating several alternatives, the team and KTM agreed to run a single bike.
“The most important thing for us is Maverick’s recovery,” said Team Manager Nicolas Goyon. “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.”
Team Principal Guenther Steiner echoed the sentiment, noting the irony of the double setback. “I don’t request 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 Paul injures his hand, and suddenly the plan changes very quickly.” He added that while alternatives were considered, the priority was making a sound decision for the team’s longer-term project.
KTM Motorsport Director Pit Beirer supported the call, stating that running one bike was the correct choice under the circumstances. “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.”
Despite the setbacks, there is optimism around Bastianini’s form. The Italian rider showed strong pace in Austin, securing a podium in the sprint race, and enters Jerez with growing confidence. Team sources say his performance offers a foundation to build on as the series moves into its European leg.
Why did Viñales withdraw from the Austin Grand Prix?
Viñales withdrew from the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin after experiencing severe pain, which led to scans revealing a displaced screw from a prior shoulder operation related to his 2025 Sachsenring crash.
When is Viñales expected to return to racing?
Viñales is targeting a return at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans on May 10, 2025, based on his current recovery progress and statements from his team.
Why didn’t Tech3 find a replacement rider for Viñales?
The team initially planned to use Pol Espargaró as a replacement, but he sustained a hand injury before the event. With limited time to secure another competitive option and after evaluating alternatives, the team decided to run only one bike to ensure proper focus on Bastianini’s race and Viñales’ recovery.