[MotoGP] Aleix Espargaro to compete in this weekend's Indonesian GP, replacing Joan Mir

It has been announced that Aleix Espargaro will compete for Honda HRC Castrol as a substitute for Joan Mir at the MotoGP Indonesian GP, which kicks off on October 9. Mir will miss the race on medical advice to focus on his recovery.

Espargaro returns on the Honda RC213V

HRC announced that Joan Mir will miss the MotoGP Indonesian GP starting on October 9. Following medical advice, Mir will skip the race weekend to focus on his recovery.

Serving as the substitute for Honda HRC Castrol is Aleix Espargaro, who currently serves as a development rider for Honda HRC. For Espargaro, this marks his return to a race weekend for the first time since the 2025 Valencia GP.

Espargaro has a track record of 14 full seasons in the premier class, with 3 total wins and 12 podium finishes. Regarding Honda HRC, it was announced on October 4 that their MotoGP partnership with Red Bull will be revived starting in 2027.

Aiming to adapt to the machine through actual competition

Although Espargaro has previous experience riding at Mandalika, his time on the Honda RC213V this season has been limited due to an injury earlier this year. Therefore, he will be required to regain his speed quickly this weekend.

The main goal for Espargaro at this Indonesian GP is to re-familiarize himself with the Honda RC213V through actual competition. He intends to collect data during the race weekend to prepare for focusing back on development work behind the scenes. Updates regarding the recovery status of the absent Mir will be provided in due course.