Sepang MotoGP Test: Espargaro: I hit the wall at over 250km/h

in #motogp20187 years ago

Pol Espargaro lucky to escape serious injury in day two accident at Sepang MotoGP test, misses last day

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Pol Espargaro was forced to sit out the final day of the Sepang MotoGP test after a big accident on Monday.

The KTM rider lost control of his RC16 under braking for Turn 4, the bike then spearing sideways off the track and into the wall.

"Honestly I feel lucky," said the Spaniard. "I had a big locking on the straight, just when I touched the brake and went into the outside wall.

"It was really close, I hit it around more than 250km/h and nothing really big happened - no broken bones, just pain everywhere especially in my feet because I did many flips, front and the back.

"But even if I cannot ride today, I'm lucky to be here and to be watching with the team."

The Spaniard's main injury was to his ankles, which will be further checked on his return to Europe.

"I make some X-rays here at the track and also in Kuala Lumpur. There is nothing broken but I don't know how the ligaments are. That worries me a little bit more because I feel pain on the movement.

"Right now the ankles are still quite swollen. We'll see how I feel when I arrive in Barcelona and make a resonance scan to check everything and be clear."

Espargaro's place for the final day was taken by test rider Mika Kallio.

"For sure I don’t like that I cannot test all the things that were ready for the bike but anyway I think KTM did a good test with Mika, who was already here and ready to ride.

"He is riding with my bike, testing my things and I trust him 100%. Honestly I feel lucky because I'm not badly hurt and I have good guys in my pit box working with my bikes and checking what I couldn't. I'm grateful to them."