P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Maverick Vinales will join Marc Marquez in missing the next two MotoGP rounds.
Injured Tech3 KTM rider Maverick Vinales will miss the remaining flyaway MotoGP rounds at Phillip Island and Sepang due to a left shoulder injury sustained before the summer break at Sachsenring, which has not fully healed. Vinales withdrew from the Indonesian weekend before qualifying and has struggled since returning, with a best finish of 13th place.
Team manager Nicolas Goyon stated that Vinales’ shoulder recovery has been challenging, affecting his confidence and speed, prompting the decision to focus on recovery. Team owner Herve Poncharal confirmed that Vinales will skip the next two races and Pol Espargaro may return as a stand-in rider, pending a final decision by KTM.
Despite Vinales’ desire to push through the injury, Poncharal stressed that the prolonged recovery time is necessary, as the shoulder injury is severe and could have led to a longer absence for others. Vinales’ absence adds to the MotoGP injury list, alongside Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez, who will also miss upcoming events.
