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'I'm happy to be able to help the factory again' - Pol Espargaro discusses replacing Maverick Vinales in Hungary

Gold & Goose

Pol Espargaro will be back on the MotoGP grid at the Hungarian Grand Prix as he will replace Maverick Vinales.

For the second time in the 2025 MotoGP World Championship, Pol Espargaro will be back with the Red Bull KTM Tech3 squad.

The Spaniard has once again been called up to replace the recovering Maverick Vinales in the French MotoGP team for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

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Espargaro last replaced Vinales before the summer break at the Czech Republic Grand Prix. However, Vinales tried to return at the Austrian Grand Prix, which was unsuccessful, leaving him unfit for this weekend at Balaton Park.

"It’s tough for Maverick to miss another race," Espargaro said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"But we saw in Austria that he needs more time for recovery, and it’s important to think about MotoGP when you are 100%. I know this only too well!

"I repeat again what I said in Czechia: he's doing an amazing job for the factory, and he deserves to continue enjoying the bike, as the other guys have done. I hope he’s back asap.

"Right now, we focus on Hungary, and it's not easy to change the test rider ‘chip’ for the MotoGP rider ‘chip’, with the level the category has right now and with the pace the others have. We’ve had some tests recently, and we can see the project is making some great progress.

"I’m happy to be able to help out the team and the factory again by racing this weekend and, as always, it will bring some value to our work behind the scenes and at the races. We’ll need to change our mentality and get ready for this new challenge in Balaton Park."

Nicolas Goyon, the Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager, said: "Maverick Viñales will take some extra recovery time. It was really important for him to be in Spielberg, but riding the bike was really painful. Balaton Park seems to be a physically demanding layout, so it is best for him to continue recovering.

"Pol Espargaro will replace him. He has been training hard over the last weeks to be ready if needed, and we are very grateful to him to join us again this week. Pol has already attended a private test at this track, so his experience will be a big help to help us advance into the weekend!"

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