MotoGP Welcomes Back Maverick Viñales, but the Spaniard Makes a Candid Admission
After a long break from the track, Maverick Viñales is ready to return to action. The Red Bull KTM Tech3 team has confirmed that the Spanish rider will compete in the Japanese Grand Prix scheduled for this weekend at Motegi, marking his return to the MotoGP World Championship after two months of recovery following corrective shoulder surgery.
Viñales has been out of competition since the German Grand Prix held in July. The Spaniard had continued to deal with complications related to a previous shoulder injury, a situation that led to the decision to undergo another surgery. Since then, the rider has focused entirely on his rehabilitation, working closely with his medical staff and the Tech3 team.
After further medical examinations and physical tests conducted at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center, Viñales received the green light to return to racing. In the Tech3 pit, he will be reunited with his teammate, Enea Bastianini, for the 16th round of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.
During his absence, KTM relied on test rider and reserve rider Pol Espargaró, who replaced Viñales at the Silverstone, Aragon, Misano, and Austrian Grand Prix. Now, with the start of the overseas leg of the season, the Spanish rider is ready to put his helmet back on and return to competing against the best in the premier class. “I’m really happy to finally be able to say that I’m returning to racing,” he told the team’s official channels. “The last few months have been a long process, and I’ve worked hard every day to get to this point.”
Viñales did, however, admit that he is not yet in peak physical condition: “I’m not 100 percent yet, but I’m on the right track and I feel ready to take this step. Motegi will be an opportunity to improve gradually, assess where I stand physically, and get back into the groove on the bike. I’d like to give a special thanks to the entire Red Bull APC team and my doctors for their work and support during my recovery. I can’t wait to get back on the track and race again.”
Team manager Nicolas Goyon is also pleased with Viñales’ return: “We’re very happy to confirm that Maverick will be back with us in Japan. From the very beginning of this process, our priority has been to support his recovery and ensure he returns only when he is truly ready, without rushing things.”
“It’s been a longer journey than initially expected,” he added, “but Maverick has worked hard throughout his rehabilitation, and it’s great to see him finally ready to return to the grid. We know that, after such a long time away from racing, it will take some time for him to get back into the rhythm, so we’ll guide him step by step throughout the weekend. At the same time, it’s fantastic for the whole team to have our full lineup of riders back, and we can’t wait to get back to work with Maverick at Motegi.”
