Shoulder Injury, Maverick Vinales Absent At Austrian MotoGP

Maverick Vinales. (Photo: Instagram/@maverick12official)

JAKARTA - Unpleasant news was experienced by Red Bull KTM Tech3 racer Maverick Vinales. He was confirmed absent from the Austrian MotoGP 2025 at the Red Bull Ring Circuit after being declared unsuitable due to a left shoulder injury.

Vinales had received permission to step down the track during the first free practice session (FP1), but the increasingly severe pain forced him to withdraw from the Austrian Grand Prix round.

"Even though he tried again this morning, the pain in his left shoulder was too great. Another medical examination stated Maverick Vinales was not fit for the rest of the race at the Austrian Grand Prix. Maverick Vinales' recovery continues and we look forward to meeting him again soon," the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team said in a statement. , quoted from his official statement quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, August 16.

Vinales suffered a shoulder injury after a highside accident at the Sachsenring Circuit, Germany, before the summer holiday.

He had surgery and had to pull out at a race in Brno last month.

To date, the Spaniard is ranked 11th in the standings with 69 points, with the best results in the form of finishing fifth at the French Grand Prix at Le Mans and the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen.

Meanwhile, Aprilia Racing racer Marco Bezzecchi won the Austrian 2025 MotoGP pole position after recording the fastest time of 1 minute 28,060 seconds in qualifying session (Q2) at the Red Bull Ring Circuit, Saturday.

Interestingly, before taking the lead, Bezzecki had to go through Q1 first. This pole position is the first for him in the 2025 season as well as repeating his last achievement at the leading start of the 2023 Indian MotoGP.

Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing occupies second place with a difference of 0.016 seconds, while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completes the front row in third place.

Marc Marquez had to settle for the start from the fourth position after being 0.160 seconds adrift of Bezzecchi. The Ducati Lenovo Team racer had fallen in the final minutes of the session and failed to secure the front row.

The fifth position is occupied by Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) who advances impressively after qualifying from Q1. Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Racing) filled the sixth position, followed by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in seventh place despite experiencing engine problems.

Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) starts from eighth, followed by Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) who also fell at the end of the session. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) completes the top ten positions.