Pol Espargaro to replace Viñales in Australia and Malaysia

The Red Bull KTM test rider will return to action at Phillip Island and Sepang as he steps in for Maverick Viñales

Pol Espargaro will step in for Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) at the upcoming Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix. The decision comes after Viñales and his team decided to focus on his recovery to build strength in his left shoulder following his crash at the Sachsenring.

Espargaro returns to racing action for the third time this season after previously replacing Viñales in Czechia and Hungary. The Red Bull KTM test rider has been hard at work this year, and now sets his sights on the upcoming flyaway weekends.

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Pol Espargaro: "As I said in my previous Grand Prix appearances, having to do it because a teammate is injured is not something I particularly like. I know that Maverick has made a huge effort to keep racing, so the first thing I want to say is that I hope this absence helps him to speed up his recovery and that he can come back as soon as possible, because we need him at KTM.

"I’m returning to my Tech3 family and, as in Brno and Balaton Park, with the goal of helping the project as much as I can and making the most of these weekends to make progress with our bike and support the other riders. Phillip Island is a circuit I really like, although it’s been a while since I last rode there. As always, I’ll try to give my best to build a productive weekend for everybody."

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