Pol Espargaro is facing as long as five months out of action from the 2023 MotoGP World Championship through injury, according to his brother Aleix Espargaro.
The Spaniard suffered a litany of injuries after a high-side during Practice 2 of the season-opening Portuguese MotoGP at Portimao, leaving him with a broken jaw, damage to his lung and a serious back injury.
Forced to have his jaw wired shut for a time after the accident, he has since had teeth removed and replaced with implants to alleviate problems with his hearing.
However, it is the legacy of injuries to his back that will take longer to heal, with his brother Espargaro - who races with the Aprilia Racing team - revealing to Speedweek that he is facing an extended time out that could stretch until Round 10 at the Austrian MotoGP in August.
“He will have a very long recovery process. The most important thing is that he can recover.
“He wants to get on the bike tomorrow, but that can't happen.
“The important thing, being young, is that he recovers well from the issue of his back because it is a complicated injury. It seemed that it would be all a little less but he is in a lot of pain.”
Espargaro’s injury came just as he was beginning his return to the Pierer Group/KTM fold following two years at Repsol Honda.
Re-signed to lead the rebranded GasGas Tech 3 Factory team, Espargaro’s seat is currently being assumed by German racer Jonas Folger.
CLICK HERE to view the 2023 MotoGP World Championship standings
