Roadracer Aleix Espargaro will miss the upcoming Valencia GP with a broken left hand.
In previous years, that could have had an influence on the leaderboard, but Espargaro is a bit of an also-ran this year aboard the factory Aprilia; he’s currently sitting in 13th, with only 62 points on the season. He wasn’t likely to win, or even podium, at the Malaysian race. Things have gone downhill for him this season, and this is only the latest roadblock for him.
Espargaro broke his hand at the Phillip Island race, when he crashed out of a battle in the leaders’ pack, and he’s going to have surgery on Thursday, the Aprilia press release says (below). He’s hoping to be able to race at Valencia, if he takes Sepang off to heal.
Aprilia press release:
ALEIX ESPARGARÓ FORCED TO MISS THE GP OF MALAYSIA
THE SPANISH RIDER WILL UNDERGO SURGERY THURSDAY IN BARCELONA
Despite his great desire to get back on the track, the injury he suffered at Phillip Island will force Aleix Espargaró to miss the GP of Malaysia. The Spanish rider, who fell in the race as he was battling in the lead group, suffered a fracture to the fourth metacarpus of the left hand and he will undergo surgery on Thursday in Barcelona. The goal is to recover in time for the last race of the season in Valencia.
This is an unfortunate episode that occurred at a time when Aleix and his Aprilia RS-GP had been on a positive trend, demonstrating absolutely outstanding performance in recent rounds. The objective is Valencia, where Espargaró will set his sights on finishing an unquestionably positive season in the best possible way.
The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini will not replace Aleix in the Malaysian race.
ALEIX ESPARGARO’
“The idea after the injury was to avoid surgery and to try to race here in Malaysia. Unfortunately, the situation is forcing me to go back home for surgery so that I will be able to fully recover for Valencia. In agreement with Dr. Mir, we agreed to have the surgery done on Thursday in Barcelona. It was an unfortunate crash, but I am already focused on the last race of the season where I want to demonstrate the level that the Aprilia RS-GP and I have reached.”
