The future forecasts change again for the Spanish motorcycle pilot who has not appeared for months in the races of his classification
The GasGas pilot, Pol Espargaró, will have to postpone his long-awaited return to MotoGP encountering further complications with his fractured vertebra ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. Espargaro has been absent from the premier class field since he suffered fractured vertebrae and a broken jaw in practice for the season-opening Portuguese Grand Prix in March.
The Spaniard has been replaced by KTM test rider, Jonas Folger, since the third round of the year at the Circuit of the Americas. The German will continue to act as a substitute for espargaró at least for this weekend’s race in Mugello, Italy, as Espargaró receives additional treatment for edema – basically excessive tissue swelling – around his fractured vertebra, according to the GasGas team.
Hope to return to competition
Despite the complications, Espargaró is eager to return to competition “in the coming weeks,” according to a statement issued Monday morning. “I really wanted to get back on my bike but, as I said from the beginning, the final decision would be made by the doctors and they asked me to wait a few more days,” Espargaró commented.
His original plan was to return for one of the next three races. before the summer break and that is still the idea. “The most important thing is to be physically prepared, and this call means that I have a few more days to continue working at home and arrive in the best possible shape and as soon as possible,” she added. “I feel really good and very motivated. I hope to see the team and everyone in the sport, and surely the fans, as soon as possible”, expressed Espargaró with optimism.
Folger’s performance in MotoGP
folger has struggled so far to catch up on his return to MotoGP on the KTM machine with the brand GasGasalthough he has at least managed to bring the bike home to secure points in two of the three meetings he has ridden so far, with a best finish of 12th at COTA. In this way he continues to climb steps slowly.
The operation of GasGas Tech 3 is currently in ninth place out of 11 teams in the team standings after the first five rounds, largely thanks to the efforts of ever-improving rookie Augusto Fernández, who has posted two top-10 finishes so far, including an impressive run to fourth in the French GP last month.