Honda call former race winner out of retirement after latest injury blow
Espargaro was a MotoGP regular before his 2024 retirement (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
MotoGP fan favourite Aleix Espargaro is returning to action as a replacement for the injured Joan Mir.
The three-time race winner left the sport on a full-time basis in 2024, but made five substitute appearances last season.
The Indonesian Grand Prix will be his first outing of the season as a Honda test rider.
Honda call on retired star for Indonesia
In a statement, the 37-year-old said: "Of course, it's always a great honour to join the official Honda team in MotoGP, and I want to thank them for the confidence they've placed in me to ride while Joan and Taka [Nakagami] recover.
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"We're travelling to Mandalika with realistic expectations; we'll see how we can best help the team.
“After the crash at the beginning of the year and my injury, I haven’t had as much time on the bike as I would like, as I’ve only done a few laps and it’s a very physically demanding circuit, even before considering the weather.
“We’re going to analyse how we can best help the team and Honda this weekend and focus on that.”
Serious injury disrupted Espargaro's own 2026 programme
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The crash Espargaro is referring to happened in April during a testing session in Malaysia, where he suffered some very serious injuries.
He sustained several contusions and four broken vertebrae, narrowly missing his spinal cord.
The Catalan is known to be an expert bike developer, playing his part in Aprilia’s rise to the top of the constructors' championship during his eight years with the Italian brand.
He has since been snapped up by Honda, who are hoping to gather crucial information ahead of the sweeping 2027 regulation changes.
The Japanese brand are MotoGP’s most successful team, but have endured another painful year, sitting fourth in the constructors’ standings, ahead of only Yamaha.
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Honda's 2027 development has been hit by an injury crisis [Photo: Red Bull Content Pool]
Honda hit by mounting injury problems
Things have been further complicated by Joan Mir’s absence, although the team are yet to announce an official diagnosis.
The 2020 world champion was ruled out of the last race in Japan and this weekend’s Indonesia event.
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Giving little detail, a Honda statement read: “Following medical advice, Joan Mir will miss both the Japanese GP and the Indonesian GP as he aims to understand the root cause of his symptoms.”
The spate of injuries has caused all sorts of issues for Honda, who, after losing Espargaro, had to lean heavily on Takaaki Nakagami to develop their 2027 bike.
He was then named as a wildcard at his home race in Japan, but injured himself during a crash in Friday practice and will now miss months of development.
Somkiat Chantra took Mir’s bike for the event at Motegi, but will now hand it over to Espargaro as Chantra returns to WorldSBK.
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