Published: 03 Jul 2024
Assen Crash: Espargaro's Injury Update and Plans for German GP
Despite Aleix Espargaro suffered a “complex hand fracture” in a crash at Assen, he plans to compete in the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring.
Aleix Espargaro endured a dramatic crash during the closing stages of the sprint race at Assen, catapulting him from his factory Aprilia at over 200 km/h in the renowned Ramshoek corner. His GP prototype slid and tumbled through the gravel, concluding a harrowing flight across the track.
The incident was compounded by another serious crash involving Aprilia wildcard rider Lorenzo Savadori. Both riders were swiftly transported to Assen’s hospital for comprehensive assessments.
Espargaro was diagnosed with a fractured right hand, while Savadori sustained multiple fractures to his lumbar spine processes. Savadori’s injuries were severe enough to necessitate immediate transfer back to Italy, ruling him out of action for an extended period.
Despite his injury setback, Aleix Espargaro remains resolute about participating in the upcoming German Grand Prix at Sachsenring. While most of his peers are already en route to the circuit, Espargaro continues his rehabilitation efforts from home.
“I’m still not satisfied with my hand; it’s a very complex injury because it affects my throttle control. Mobility is limited, and it hurts a lot, but I’m determined to give it a shot. I’ll continue therapy until Thursday and aim to arrive just in time for FP1.”
Meanwhile, Espargaro’s teammate, Maverick Vinales, looks to be in fine form for Sachsenring. Following a third-place finish in the sprint race and a solid fifth-place finish in the GP at Assen, Vinales, who will depart Aprilia at season’s end, has reclaimed fifth place in the championship standings from Pedro Acosta.