Aleix Espargaro has officially withdrawn from the main Indonesian MotoGP race at the Mandalika circuit after struggling with severe physical limitations throughout the weekend. The decision was jointly made by the experienced Spanish rider and the Honda squad following careful evaluation after Saturday's Sprint.
The HRC test rider was originally called up to step in as a replacement for Joan Mir. The Japanese manufacturer's garage faced a severe shortage of riders as Takaaki Nakagami remains sidelined with an injury while Somkiat Chantra was away on WorldSBK duty.
However, Espargaro's body is clearly still recovering after suffering multiple back fractures at Sepang back in April, keeping him away from competitive action for nearly six months. After crashing during practice and trailing home in a distant last position during Saturday's half-distance Sprint, he openly admitted doubts about his ability to contest the full Grand Prix distance.
"I tried my best but I crashed also in practice. In the Sprint I just tried to just finish out of respect for the team and myself, but it was very difficult," Espargaro explained regarding his challenging Saturday on track.
He further elaborated that the primary issue stemmed from a lack of arm strength, which led to a loss of the front end when switching directions. This physical deficit made it nearly impossible to handle the machine safely at a competitive race pace.
"Tomorrow we need to decide what we want to do. Today I suffered just to finish a really short race. It’s going to be difficult, frankly speaking, to finish the race tomorrow," he admitted before the official withdrawal.
Honda HRC Castrol subsequently confirmed the decision on Sunday morning, citing the extended period of physical inactivity from his early 2026 injuries combined with the grueling physical demands of the Mandalika International Circuit as the primary reasons for pulling the #41 machine.
With the Indonesian weekend cut short, Espargaro will now travel directly to Sepang to participate in a crucial two-day private test aboard Honda’s upcoming 850cc MotoGP prototype, shifting his complete focus toward testing duties.
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