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Maverick Viñales will return to the MotoGP field this weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi, ending an absence that began at the Sachsenring round. His comeback restores the Red Bull KTM Tech3 lineup alongside Enea Bastianini as the series begins its overseas stretch.
Back on track in Motegi
Viñales has been medically cleared to race but says he is not yet fully fit. “I’m not at 100% yet, but I’m on the right path, and I feel ready to take this next step,” he said, adding that Motegi will be about rebuilding confidence and feeling on the bike.
The team plans to take a cautious approach. Team manager Nicolas Goyon described the decision to return as deliberate rather than rushed, noting that Viñales “has worked extremely hard throughout his rehabilitation” and will “rebuild his rhythm step by step” over the weekend.
What sidelined him
The break from competition began after a shoulder problem first noted at the Sachsenring round. Initially treated as a minor muscle tear during the summer break, the issue ultimately required corrective shoulder surgery and a longer-than-expected rehabilitation program.
The recovery extended well beyond the team’s original timetable, keeping Viñales out of action for multiple rounds.
Temporary replacements and team impact
During Viñales’s absence, Pol Espargaró stepped in on the RC16 for Silverstone, Aragón, Misano and Austria. Espargaró collected a total of five points across those events.
With Viñales back, Tech3 will again field a full two-rider effort with Viñales and Enea Bastianini for Round 16.
Contract uncertainty and the season’s outlook
Off-track questions remain. Viñales has already lost his 2027 grid position and acknowledged at Sachsenring that he had doubts about his future in the championship.
The exact circumstances of his split with KTM are disputed. According to reports cited by GPOne, Viñales says he signed a new deal that the manufacturer later told him would not stand. KTM, for its part, says Viñales turned down a chance to stay at Tech3 after a proposed factory move fell through.
Motegi offers Viñales a final chance this season to show progress on track rather than watching from the pit lane. The team intends to manage his workload and let him regain form gradually.
