MotoGP Assen: Espargaro ruled out with rib injury

Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro has been ruled out of any further Assen MotoGP action following a crash at the Sachsenring.

The Spaniard has been struggling with an injury in his ribs since an FP1 crash in Germany last week, and though he managed to ride through gritted teeth at the Sachsenring, he eventually had to retire from the race after eight laps.

“He is in massive pain. Yesterday in the morning’s rainy session, he felt quite good because when you race in the rain it is much smoother. FP2, the track was dry, and he had to push, he came in one time and he was completely blocked, he could not even breathe, I assume it is something in the rib,” said team boss Alberto Puig.

“I don’t think it is just a ligament, I think it is something in the rib that’s pressing the lung because Pol is a very strong guy and he will not stop a race just because. We cannot put a guy on the bike if he cannot breathe. We all unanimously decided not to do it.”