GasGas MotoGP boss Herve Poncharal says he is “optimistic” that Pol Espargaro will be able to make his racing return in the next round of the season at Mugello.
Espargaro has been out of action since suffering a violent crash during practice for the season opening Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit, the Spaniard sustaining fractured vertebra as well as a broken jaw in the impact that has facilitated a ten-week recovery process.
This recovery period lapses shortly before the Italian GP event in just over two weeks time, leaving GasGas Tech 3 boss Poncharal “optimistic” in an interview with Austrian publication Speedweek that Espargaro can soon make his return to competition due to his recovery “progressing faster than expected.”
“I spoke to Pol yesterday and the day before yesterday,” shared Poncharal.
“He’s feeling better and better. He has now checked in with his surgeon and MotoGP Medical Director Dr. Have Ángel Charte examined. Everything is developing positively.
“The recovery is progressing faster than could have been expected as Pol is an exceptional athlete, but we can’t yet confirm that he can feature at the Italian GP.
“He will have another medical check done a week before Mugello.
“But the goal is to take part in Mugello, and I am quite optimistic that it will work, but the doctors say they can’t give Pol the green light just yet.”
KTM test rider Jonas Folger has stood in for the absent Espargaro since April’s Americas GP, the German having scored in two of the three races he has contested – with a best finish of 12th coming at the Circuit of the Americas.
GasGas currently sits ninth of 11th in the teams table, chiefly due to the efforts of ever-improving rookie Augusto Fernandez – the reigning Moto2 world champion having secured two top ten finishes in the last three races – including an outstanding run to fourth last time out at Le Mans in only his fifth premier class start – as his star continues to rise.
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