Let’s just say that this isn’t Aleix Espargaró’s weekend… The Aprilia rider has suffered three falls since the start of the Dutch GP, which have left him in a lot of pain today, even though he has escaped any major injury. His team has nevertheless specified that he is heading to the hospital to undergo additional tests to those he underwent at the circuit’s medical centre.
On Saturday, Espargaró had already been examined by doctors after being violently ejected by his RS-GP in the afternoon practice session. Going highside while passing the chicane, he blew the bubble of his bike by hitting it with his helmet but landed heavily on his buttocks and lower back.
No fracture was diagnosed, however the assessment showed a “slight discomfort due to a hematoma in the sacrococcygeal area”. The pilot admitted to having “very sore in the lower back and neck”, but he was back on the track this Saturday.
Unfortunately, Espargaró fell again, this time at high speed, at the very end of the sprint. He lost control while in sixth position, in the wheel of Fabio Di Giannantonio, and had to do some painful somersaults in the gravel trap. Helped by the emergency services, he got up with difficulty, clearly in great pain.
For the moment, Aprilia has indicated that it is not suffering from any “serious symptom”, however he is now going to Assen hospital to undergo further examinations. It seems to be touched by hand. Lorenzo Savadori, the brand’s test driver and entered this weekend as a wild card, also went to hospital after also falling during the sprint.
To make matters worse, Espargaró also suffered another mishap, this time more comical, on Friday morning. It wasn’t really a fall this time, but the Spaniard laid his bike down in the pit lane, just as he was trying to get going to start the first session.
