• Espargaro’s first words on Morbid🃏elli clash: “Bad reaction, sanction too much"

The Apr🐽ilia 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 hi🅘s fibulia, ending Saturday with his leg in plaster, ⛄leading to doubts he could even the Qatar MotoGP.

The wording of his penalty confused matters. It appeared h꧃is grid penalty would specifically relate to the race in Qatar, and would not carry over to the next race that he is fit to co🉐mpete in.

But a limping Espargaro co🍷nfirmed that he was able to race after battling through the warm-up.

St꧟arting from 16th on the grid, he took part in the early stages of the race beforeܫ heading into the pits, where he retired early, with 15 laps remaining.

It ends any debate over his grid pena✅lty, which was served.

A nightmare weekend for Esparꦐgaro concluded early.