Aleix Espargaro has four vertebrae fused after Honda MotoGP test accident
Honda MotoGP test rider Aleix Espargaro undergoes surgery after Sepang test accident, with four vertebrae fused during a six-hour operation.
HRC MotoGP test rider Aleix Espargaro is recovering after having four vertebrae fused during a lengthy operation.
The Spaniard was injured during a private test at Sepang earlier this month, resulting in the four broken vertebrae, “although by a very small margin, and thankfully, they did not affect the spinal cord”.
The circumstances of the accident are still unclear, and it is not known if Espargaro was riding the current 1000cc machine or 850cc prototype at the time.
After returning to Spain, Espargaro underwent further checks, and surgery was deemed necessary.
Providing an update on Instagram, Espargaro said:
“Hi everyone, I finally had surgery yesterday and they fused all four of my vertebrae.
“It was over six hours in the operating room, where Dr. Fiol and his team did an excellent job.
“I'm still quite sore, but I'm starting to move around again, and I hope to be able to go home in the next few days. Hugs to all ❤️”
Espargaro also posted pictures showing the scars on his upper back (see below).
It is not known how long Espargaro will be sidelined, but he will clearly be unable to repeat last year’s Honda wild-card debut during next weekend’s Spanish MotoGP at Jerez.
Fellow test rider Takaaki Nakagami was also on track at Sepang.
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