Maverick Vinales to miss Spanish MotoGP, Pol Espargaro also injured

Red Bull KTM Tech3 has suffered a double blow with the news that Maverick Vinales will miss this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP and intended stand-in Pol Espargaro also injured.

Vinales stepped back from the COTA round after opening practice and returned to Europe for surgery when a 'displaced screw' - inserted after last July’s Sachsenring shoulder injury - was discovered.

Despite the extended break caused by the postponement of Qatar, Vinales made clear he would only return to action at Jerez if he had fully recovered.

That is not the case, and Vinales is now turning his attention to the French MotoGP at Le Mans in mid-May.

“It’s obviously disappointing not to be racing at Jerez this weekend,” Vinales 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 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."

Guenther Steiner: "I don’t ask for these situations..."

Tech3 hoped that KTM test rider Pol Espargaro would step in for Vinales.

However, Espargaro sustained 'a hand injury in the lead-up to Jerez’.

Tech3 then explored ‘several alternative solutions’ - presumably including Espargaro's fellow KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa - but has now elected to compete with just Enea Bastianini this weekend.

“I don’t ask for these situations, but somehow they keep turning up anyway,” said Tech3 CEO Guenther Steiner. “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.”

KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer added: “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.”

Pol's brother and fellow MotoGP test rider Aleix Espargaro is also recovering from injuries. 

Aleix recently underwent surgery to have four vertebrae fused after a Honda testing accident at Sepang.