MotoGP star Pol Espargaro was airlifted to hospital after being involved in a horror crash during practice ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix. Espargaro was competing around the Algarve International Circuit as the MotoGP circuit headed to the south of Portugal for the first race of the season.
After struggling in FP1 by finishing 20th, the 31-year-old was out to better his performance in FP2 before coming off his bike. As he approached turn ten, his bike halted before throwing him off, as he flew across the racing surface before crashing into the trackside tyres.
On site medics quickly rushed to Espargaro’s aid following the accident. He then received 30 minutes of trackside medical assistance as the session for the rest of the competitors was stopped.
The 31-year-old rider was then put into an ambulance before being lifted via a helicopter to the nearby Faro hospital. In a statement on social media, MotoGP confirmed: “#MotoGP rider #44 @polespargaro has suffered back and chest trauma.
“Rider confirmed conscious and is being transferred to hospital in Faro for further examination.” Later detailing his injuries, they added: “#MotoGP rider #44 @polespargaro has suffered a pulmonary contusion, jaw fracture and a fractured dorsal vertebra.”
Upon examination, MotoGP doctor Dr Charte provided a positive update, confirming Espargaro is ‘neurologically fine’. He said: “He has had a high-energy fall with a large polytraumatic contusion at the level of the entire dorsal, lumbar and sacral spine.
“We’ll have to see what the extent is once tests are done at the hospital in Faro. Cervically, he is perfectly fine. Neurologically, he is fine, he has not lost consciousness at any time.
“We have not had to intubate him at any time and he has saturated well, but it is true that he has a strong pulmonary contusion. He is conscious and oriented, a little sedated, but the neurological examination is perfectly normal.”
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