
Spanish driver Pol Esparago is unable to return to competition after suffering a terrifying crash at a practice session for the Portuguese Grand Prix in March.
Spirits were high during the Portuguese GP as audiences waited for the inaugural MotoGP weekend of the 2023 season. After meticulous testing in Valencia, Sepang, and Jerez, and a final test at Portimao, the season finally began at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal. Not only did the weekend kick off the first race of the season, but it was also the first sprint weekend.
It was, however, a weekend of mixed emotions as several drivers were ruled out throughout the weekend due to crashes and injuries, serving as a reminder of the inherent risks involved with such high-speed, exhilarating racing.
One such driver was Pol Esparago, who suffered a horrific crash during Friday’s practice session. During the second session, Esparago lost control of his bike at Turn 10 and was thrown off into a tyre barrier. Initial reports stated that he was “conscious, alert and responding well” and was “being transferred to a hospital in Faro, Portugal for further examination.”
In a video posted to his Instagram almost a month and a half later, Esparago reaffirmed the extent of his injuries and confirmed that he would remain out of contention for longer. His injuries included a shattered jaw – which required his mouth to be wired shut for four weeks, injuries to his ear – which were operated on, along with eight fractures in his body: two in his ribs, one in his neck and, three in his back. An added scare was that a vertebra in his back lost half its size, bringing him dangerously close to a spinal cord injury.
Support and well-wishes poured in from drivers and audiences alike. Drivers went on to criticise the underwhelming security measures, singling out the size of the gravel next to the track. Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia called for an air fence at the corner where Esparago crashed while Honda’s Marc Marquez emphasised the urgency of the matter, stating it was required the next day, and not sometime in the distant future.
Keeping the long recovery period in mind, GasGas announced test driver Jonas Folger as his stand-in for the Circuit of The Americas and further races. The German has previously finished on the podium with a stellar runner-up result at his home GP and has been an experienced rider with the team.
The GasGas team, with Esparago, initially planned a return to the championship at Mugello, for one of the last three races before the summer break. However, his doctors have advised him to recover for longer and wait for a few more weeks. The team, thus, continues with teammate Augusto Fernandez and stand-in Jonas Folger for the race at Mugello.
Follow us on Zeroto30s social channels:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s