Team ECSTAR Suzuki’s Aleix Espargaro has fared well during Suzuki’s official return to MotoGP following a three-year hiatus.
While tuning and tweaking the GSX-RR prototype, Espargaro has had some positive results: 11th in the season opener in Qatar, eighth in Texas, and sevenths in Aragon and Jerez. But his direction headed towards the negative at this past weekend’s round held at the famed Le Mans Bugatti Circuit in France.
Espargaro suffered a high-speed high side during FP3, hitting the ground at nearly 125 mph. He hurt his back and stomach, but the majority of the pain was within his right hand.
Regardless, Espagaro qualified 10th. He also started Sunday’s 28-lap MotoGP, but was forced to pit on lap two with clutch issues.
Following the #FrenchGP, Espargaro flew back to Bareclona and was examined by Dr. Xavier Mir. After several tests, the Spaniard was diagnosed with a rupture of the collateral ligament of his thumb.
To repair this, Espargaro will undergo surgery Tuesday in Barcelona.
“Aleix suffered a rupture in the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the right thumb, confirmed by ultrasound and x-rays. This injury causes joint instability and therefore a surgical repair is necessary,” Dr. Mir. says.
Team ECSTAR Suzuki will offer an update Tuesday, and report it’s impossible to know the exact time Espargaro will need for recover. But the main objective is to have him ready for the Italian Grand Prix at the end of the month.
To read our report of Sunday’s French GP, visit Le Mans MotoGP 2015 Results & Recap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtN44KxC9vQ
