• Espargaro’s first words on Morbi꧅de🌠lli clash: “Bad reaction, sanction too much"

The Aprilia rider was hit with a six-place grid꧋ demotion and a €10,000 fine for slapping Franco Morbidelli on the helmet on Saturday.

But he🎃 later fractured his fibulia, en꧂ding Saturday with his leg in plaster, leading to doubts he could even the Qatar MotoGP.

The wording of his penalty co🐓nfused matters. It appeared his grid penalty would specifically relate to the race in Qatar, and would not carry over to the next race that he is fit to compete in.

But a li🐽mping Espargaro confirmed that he was able to race after battling thro🤪ugh the warm-up.

Starting from 16th on the grid, he to﷽ok part in the early stages of the race before heading into the p൩its, where he retired early, with 15 laps remaining.

It ends any debate over his gr🥃id penalty, which 💃was served.

A nightmare weekend for 👍Espargaro concluded early.