ESPARAGARO RETURNS TO MOTOGP AFTER SIX-MONTH INJURY LAYOFF

Aleix Espargaro is back on the MotoGP grid at Mandalika after six months recovering from serious back injuries, describing the call-up as a chance he once thought he might never get again.

The Spaniard fractured four vertebrae in a crash during private Honda testing at Sepang in April, an accident he called the worst of his career. He later had another operation to remove metalwork from his back and only returned to riding in a test last month. He said he still feels pain and expects it may stay with him for the rest of his life. “I really destroyed my back,” he said, reflecting on six very difficult months. It was not certain he would return to the paddock, making the opportunity to ride again for Honda especially meaningful. “Life gave me this chance to come back to the best team in the world, HRC. That makes me happy and motivated.”

Espargaro had planned to make race appearances for Honda this season, but his injuries ruled those out. He has now been drafted in because Joan Mir is still recovering from an undisclosed illness, Takaaki Nakagami was injured in a crash at Motegi, and Somkiat Chantra is back on WorldSBK duty. The timing could make Mandalika his final MotoGP appearance: wildcard entries are due to be banned from 2027, and Espargaro stepped away from full-time racing two years ago.

He said that decision had come when he no longer had the energy to compete. “I never thought that I will have this feeling again,” he said. During his recovery, he sometimes doubted he would ride a motorcycle again, and the experience made him realise how much he missed racing. “Now that I have this opportunity, I feel really happy, and really motivated to have one more chance.”

The 36-year-old, a three-time MotoGP winner with Aprilia, acknowledged that matching the pace of the current field will be difficult. His last proper riding was the Sepang shakedown, and he has had little time on a bike since January. He could not train during much of his recovery and only resumed gym work a month ago. “These guys are really, really fast,” he said, adding that he has a lot of work ahead and is a little concerned by the level of the riders.

Espargaro also praised the title fight, calling it “very exciting”. He said Marc Marquez had never lost a title battle when the contest was level, and described Jorge Martin’s performance and Aprilia’s challenge as “amazing”. He hopes the championship goes down to the final race. Asked who he supports, he smiled: “You know Jorge is one of my best friends, and Aprilia is deep in my heart, so the answer is easy.”

His role may extend beyond this weekend. Espargaro hopes Mir can return and finish his Honda career on a high, but said he will race more if needed. He has barely ridden Honda’s 850cc prototype, and Nakagami’s continued unavailability means a demanding period of testing lies ahead. His next test is scheduled immediately after the Indonesian Grand Prix.