“Angry” Espargaro a doubt for Misano return
KTM rider Pol Espargaro is in danger of having to miss a further MotoGP race at Misano, as his fractured collarbone is not healing correctly.
Espargaro has been out of action since fracturing his collarbone in a warm-up crash at Brno earlier this month, an incident that also left him with swelling around his spinal cord.
KTM was not obliged to replace him for the Austrian Grand Prix, which took place the following weekend, but had to seek a replacement for this weekend’s Silverstone race – despite regular test rider Mika Kallio also being unavailable due to injury.
The Austrian marque eventually settled on World Superbike rider Loris Baz, who lost his Avintia Ducati ride in MotoGP at the end of last season, for a one-off return.
Espargaro’s elder brother Aleix provided an update on Pol’s situation at Silverstone, but indicated that his collarbone injury is possibly worse than first thought.
“[Pol is] very angry,” said the Aprilia rider, “because after the crash, they [the doctors] said, ‘No worries, the collarbone is not problem, you just need to wait two weeks and it will heal up'.
“Three days ago he made a scan and the collarbone was worse – completely broken. He said, 'If it was like this, why didn't you operate on me?'
“Now he's thinking if he gets an operation or waits more – because if he waits to race in Misano it's not that clear he can arrive in Misano because if you don't make an operation to the collarbone, it's quite slow [to recover].”
A KTM spokesperson told Motorsport.com it is the team’s hope Espargaro will be fit for a Misano return, but that Baz will not fill in for the Spaniard if he can’t race.
Instead, newly-recruited test rider Randy de Puniet would most likely race at the Italian venue, following a test at Aragon set to take place early next week.
For his part, Baz – who is set to return to WSBK action for Althea BMW at Portimao on 15-16 September – stressed that he has no plans to race for KTM beyond Silverstone.
“Honestly it’s just for one race,” he said. “I really think Pol will be fit [for Misano], and I hope he will be. It’s the plan to ride only here.”
Baz ended up 24th and last in first practice for the British GP, 4.6 seconds off the pace and 2.7s behind KTM regular Bradley Smith.
Additional reporting by Lewis Duncan
Loris Baz, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
Share Or Save This Story
Toyota-backed Sho Tsuboi to make switch from Super Formula to F2
Sho Tsuboi calls for Super Formula engine overhaul as Toyota “can’t properly compete with Honda”
How a Le Mans winner is changing the game for female racing in Japan
Pedro Acosta backed to win KTM’s home MotoGP race - “if there’s a place, it’s here”
Tech3 confirms Pol Espargaro for Austrian GP as Vinales' replacement
Pol Espargaro warns 'MotoGP riders not aware of the change coming with 2027 tyres'
Maverick Vinales: “I don't understand what KTM wants from me”
Pit Beirer admits KTM's engine problems “almost killed us”
Pedro Acosta may not win a MotoGP race on a KTM - and that’s not a failure
NASCAR shortens spoiler in new tweak to superspeedway package for Talladega
Dudu Barrichello to end 'fun year' in IMSA with outside chance at GTD title
WRC title showdown: What Evans, Pajari and Solberg need in Sardinia
F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
How to make two MotoGP grids with a single qualifying session
What we learned from an emotional MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix
Are Aprilia riders making it too easy for Marc Marquez to win the 2026 MotoGP title?
What we learned from MotoGP’s decisive San Marino Grand Prix
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments