Pol Espargaro to miss Thai MotoGP test with herniated disc spinal injury

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will be forced to sit out the upcoming test at Chang International Circuit in Thailand, having been diagnosed with a hernia in his fourth lumbar vertebra.

The Spaniard was left reeling after a 250kmh crash at Turn 4 at the second day of last month’s Sepang MotoGP test, Espargaro collided with the barrier at the side of the track during the spill.

Espargaro was taken to the medical centre at the circuit before being transferred to a hospital in Kuala Lumpur, where checks revealed he had escaped breaking any bones. He was due to return to action for the Thai test this weekend but when he got home to Barcelona doctors found that he was suffering from a herniated disc in his spine. The KTM rider underwent a successful operation on the injury at the Hospital Universitario Quirón Dexeus on Monday and spent the pre-op time with his brother, Aleix (pictured below).