MotoGP: KTM Names Pol Espargaro as Maverick Vinales’ Replacement for Hungarian GP

Pol Espargaro will make his first MotoGP start of 2025 this weekend as he fills in for Maverick Viñales at Red Bull KTM Tech3. Viñales was injured in a Q2 crash last Saturday that left him with a shoulder problem, ruling him out of the Czech Grand Prix. Espargaro returns to the grid after missing the first part of the season and will have a chance to regain race rhythm.

Pol Espargaro: 'Obviously, it’s never a good thing to take part in a GP because you have to replace an injured rider. So, first of all, I want to wish a speedy recovery to Maverick. I will try to do my best this weekend, also trying to help as much as possible my teammates and the technicians.

'It’s been a long time since our last visit to Brno, which is a fantastic track. The last time we raced here I felt super-good in my best period with KTM so let’s see how it is with the new surface. I don’t have any expectations apart from enjoying the weekend and having some useful days for our project.'

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The Hungarian Grand Prix marks MotoGP’s return after more than thirty years, with Balaton Park hosting the event for the first time. While most riders will see the track for the first time, Espargaro has already completed test laps there, which could give him useful track knowledge. For KTM, his presence offers an opportunity to collect data and continue development for the rest of the year.

MotoGP: Honda's Aleix Espargaro Withdraws from Hungarian GP

Honda LCR has also faced changes in its line-up. The team had selected Aleix Espargaro to take the place of Somkiat Chantra, who continues to recover from training injuries. The plan was to have Aleix cover for the Hungarian round to keep the team fully represented on the grid.

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Those plans ended when Aleix suffered a cycling accident earlier this week. What was first thought to be a minor incident led to medical checks that revealed an issue with his L3 vertebra. He has returned to Barcelona for further tests, leaving Honda LCR to consider its next steps before the race weekend begins.