KTM plans to drop Maverick Viñales from Tech3 line‑up before Silverstone GP

Maverick Viñales faces the loss of his MotoGP seat with the Tech3 KTM squad for the second half of the 2026 season. KTM, seeking a swift resolution, has approached former world champion Pol Espargaró to take over the bike at the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone, with the possibility of extending the replacement through the rest of the season.

The move is driven by Viñales' ongoing shoulder injury sustained in July at the Sachsenring, which has hampered his performance, and by escalating tension with Tech3’s newly appointed general manager Günter Steiner. KTM held a unilateral contract option until 30 June to end the rider agreement, and recent recruitment of Alex Márquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio to the factory team has further reduced Viñales' prospects. Viñales claims the contract he signed was later declared invalid by the team.

KTM’s revised rider lineup now centres on Márquez and Di Giannantonio for the factory squad, while the Tech3 seat may be filled by Espargaró, signalling a broader shift in the Austrian manufacturer’s rider management strategy.