Honda dealt a major blow as key figure is sidelined with injury

During the first ten minutes of the first free practice session, the Japanese rider crashed at Turn 11 on the slippery Motegi circuit. Before the session had even finished, Honda shared on social media that Nakagami could not continue racing this weekend after fracturing his right collarbone.

On social media, Nakagami apologized to the Japanese fans, and wrote: "I'll undergo surgery right away and work hard to make a comeback!"

Speaking during MotoGP's coverage, Honda's Alberto Puig said: "Unfortunately, Taka has been injured. It was very unfortunate; he was on his first lap and the track was still a bit damp. A real stroke of bad luck, for him personally too, because missing his home race is tough."

Nakagami, who has been key to developing Honda's MotoGP bike for the upcoming campaign, is set to spend at least a month on the sidelines, Puig explained. "Even with a successful operation, it will take four to five weeks before he’s fit to race again; that’s the reality."

Honda's other test rider, Aleix Espargaro, is still recovering from an injury after he broke four vertebrae back in April when testing the Japanese brand's 850cc bike for next year.

"Aleix Espargaro is also part of the test programme, though he’s not quite at 100% yet. Aleix is motivated and a true professional, now we’ll have to see how things pan out with the resources we currently have," Puig said.

Nakagami's injury also makes things more difficult on a day-to-day level. At the moment, full-time rider Joan Mir cannot compete. In Japan, Nakagami would have ridden his bike as a wildcard entry, with Somkiat Chantra subbing in for the 2020 world champion. The Thai rider replaced Mir in Austria and finished 13th on Sunday.

With Chantra having to compete at the Estoril round of the World Superbike Championship next weekend, the Thai rider is unavailable. That leaves Honda with Aleix Espargaro also having to ride the 1000cc bike alongside Luca Marini in Indonesia and possibly at further rounds of the season while continuing in his test role.