Aleix Espargaro discharged after “complicated” surgery: “The worst fall of my career”

Aleix Espargaro has been discharged from hospital following surgery to fuse four fractured vertebrae sustained in a recent MotoGP testing accident.

The triple MotoGP race winner suffered the injuries during what he described as “the worst fall of my sporting career” in a private Honda test at Sepang earlier this month.

The exact circumstances of his accident remain unclear, but Aleix Espargaro was testing alongside Takaaki Nakagami, working on the development of the current 1000cc and future 850cc prototype. 

Upon returning to Spain, Espargaro underwent a six-hour operation but has now been allowed to continue his recovery at home.

Providing an update on Instagram, Espargaro wrote: “BACK HOME! Thank you all for so much love. Time for a mandatory break, but happy to be home.

“It was the worst fall of my sporting career, a very serious injury, many days in hospital and a complicated operation.

“The hardest thing hasn't been the pain, it's been the fear, not being able to do anything and seeing how my family, my wife and my children have had to adapt to my pace, my times, my limits... (and what's left)

“Laura, Ana, Rober and all mine, I love you infinitely.”

There is no confirmed timeline for Espargaro’s recovery, but he will miss this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP at Jerez, the event where he made his Honda wild-card debut appearance last season.

Younger brother Pol Espargaro - who had been set to replace Maverick Vinales at Tech3 this weekend - is also sidelined due to injury.