Maverick Viñales Cleared to Return for the Japanese Grand Prix

Maverick Viñales will be back on the MotoGP grid at Motegi. Red Bull KTM Tech3 confirmed on 28 September that the Spaniard has been cleared to race at the Japanese Grand Prix, ending an absence that began after the German Grand Prix in July and followed corrective surgery on his shoulder.

Viñales will rejoin team-mate Enea Bastianini for Round 16 of the season from 2 to 4 October. KTM test rider Pol Espargaro had replaced him at Silverstone, Aragon, Misano and the Red Bull Ring.

The background to his absence

Viñales’ problems date back to a shoulder injury sustained at the 2025 German Grand Prix. According to The Race, the months since have involved a sequence of absences and comebacks, including a screw in the shoulder coming loose during his recovery. The most recent setback was muscle damage that limited the rotation of his arm, identified during the summer break.

That led to corrective surgery and a rehabilitation programme with his medical team, KTM and Tech3. Following further medical and fitness evaluations, Viñales has now received clearance to compete.

• Absent since the German Grand Prix in July 2026.
• Underwent corrective surgery on his injured shoulder.
• Replaced by Pol Espargaro for four rounds.
• Cleared to race after further medical and fitness checks.
• Returns at Motegi, the first round of the overseas stretch.

What Viñales and Tech3 said

Viñales was open about his condition. “I’m really happy to finally say that I’m coming back to racing. The last few months have been a long process, and I’ve worked hard every day to get to this point,” he said. “I’m not at 100% yet, but I’m on the right path, and I feel ready to take this next step. Motegi will be about building things up step by step, understanding where I am physically and getting my feeling back on the bike.”

Team manager Nicolas Goyon stressed that Tech3 had prioritised a full recovery over a rushed return. “It has been a longer road than we initially expected, but Maverick has worked extremely hard throughout his rehabilitation,” he said. “We know that coming back after such a long period away will take some time, so we will support Maverick throughout the weekend and allow him to rebuild his rhythm step by step.”

A clue from the Austria test

Viñales had already given an indication of his progress at the Red Bull Ring test on 21 September, the day after the Austrian Grand Prix. According to Motorcycles.News, he rode an adapted 1000cc KTM on Pirelli’s 2027 tyres and set an unofficial best of 1:29.2, while using the session to test his injured shoulder.

Unofficial test times need to be treated carefully, but completing a test day at that pace suggested his fitness was moving in the right direction. It also gave him valuable time on the bike before a race weekend, which matters for a rider who had been away from competition for more than two months.

Why this return carries extra weight

The Race describes this as potentially Viñales’ final MotoGP comeback. KTM dropped plans to move him from Tech3 to the factory team for 2027, and he does not currently have a seat for next season. Viñales has been outspoken about the situation, telling reporters: “In the end if I’m not in the world championship, it’ll be because of one party – and that’s KTM.”

That context makes the remaining rounds significant. Viñales is a multiple MotoGP race winner with a reputation for exceptional speed when his bike and body are working together. A strong run through the flyaways could remind the paddock of that talent, whether his future lies in MotoGP or elsewhere.

• Viñales has no confirmed MotoGP ride for 2027.
• KTM changed plans that would have moved him to the factory team.
• The remaining rounds are a showcase for his future.
• He admits he is not yet at full strength.

What to expect at Motegi

Realistic expectations are important. Motegi is a hard-braking circuit that places heavy loads on the upper body, which will test a recovering shoulder. Viñales himself framed the weekend as a step-by-step process, suggesting that the aim is to finish races and build strength rather than chase an immediate headline result.

For Tech3, having both regular riders back is a boost as the team heads into a busy stretch of five Grands Prix in six weeks. Bastianini, who moves to Trackhouse Aprilia next year, and Viñales will both be riding for their futures in the closing rounds.

Fans in Malaysia will hope to see Viñales at Sepang on 1 November in good shape. He has been one of the most popular riders of his generation, and his return adds another experienced name to a grid that has been disrupted by injuries this season. After a difficult year, simply being back on the bike represents progress. The next few races will show how quickly he can turn that into competitive results.

Tech3’s approach to the comeback

Goyon’s comments suggest Tech3 will measure the weekend differently from a normal race. The team intends to let Viñales rebuild his rhythm session by session rather than setting fixed result targets. That is sensible after such a long break: race sharpness, braking confidence and physical endurance all need time to return, and pushing too hard too soon could risk another setback.

Espargaro’s four-race stint also gives Tech3 a useful baseline. The team has collected data from an experienced rider during Viñales’ absence, and it can now compare that with Viñales’ feedback as he works back towards full fitness. That comparison should help the engineers understand how much of any gap is down to the bike set-up and how much reflects his physical recovery.

The timing of the return, at the start of the overseas stretch, also gives Viñales several consecutive weekends to rebuild momentum rather than one isolated race.

His comeback also offers KTM a fuller picture of its RC16 package before the switch to 850cc machinery. With two experienced riders providing feedback at Tech3, the team can compare data more easily through the flyaway rounds, even as each rider focuses on his own goals.