Aleix Espargaro is back on his feet after a six-hour spinal operation in Barcelona to stabilise four damaged vertebrae sustained in a heavy crash during private Honda MotoGP testing at Sepang.
The Spaniard, who retired from full-time grand prix racing at the end of 2024 to take on a development role with Honda's HRC project, suffered fractures to the T3 and T4 vertebrae in his upper back along with damage to two further vertebrae after a high-speed off at the Malaysian circuit. Crucially, doctors confirmed that the spinal cord itself was not affected.
After initial assessment in Malaysia, Espargaro was flown back to Barcelona, where surgeons determined that operating immediately to fuse the affected segments offered the best long-term outcome. The procedure took close to six hours.
Posting an update from his hospital bed, Espargaro thanked the medical team and confirmed he was already managing to move again — considered a strong early sign for any patient recovering from spinal surgery.
"I'm still in some pain, but I'm moving and that's what counts right now," he said in a short message to fans. "Thank you to all the staff here for what they've done for me and for my family."
The accident is a significant blow for both Espargaro and Honda. The 36-year-old has been one of the busiest test riders on the grid this season, leading much of the development direction on the troubled Honda RC213V. He had already been pencilled in for a wildcard appearance later in the European season — a plan that is now almost certainly shelved.
Honda has not put a timeline on his return, and given the nature of the injury it would be a surprise to see him back on a bike before the second half of the year. Recovery from a multi-level vertebral fusion typically requires extended rehabilitation, with riders historically taking several months to regain the conditioning needed for MotoGP machinery.
The crash also throws Honda's near-term test schedule into uncertainty. Espargaro has been the lead voice on aero and chassis evaluation, and replacing his feedback in the short term will not be straightforward. Test rider duties are likely to fall more heavily on Stefan Bradl while HRC waits to see how Espargaro's rehab progresses.
For now, the focus is firmly on the recovery rather than the racing. Messages of support have flooded in from across the paddock, including from his brother Pol and former Aprilia teammates, all relieved that the injury — while serious — has not proved career-ending.
Espargaro himself has typically been one of the most outspoken and durable figures in the sport, racing for more than a decade at the top level. The signs in the immediate aftermath of surgery suggest that resilience is intact. The next step is getting home — and then the long road back.
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*Originally published on [Motorsports Global](https://motorsports.global/article/espargaro-recovering-after-six-hour-spinal-surgery-to-fuse-four-vertebrae). Visit for full coverage.*