Motorcycling-Pol Espargaro to miss Portuguese MotoGP after crash in practice

FILE PHOTO: MotoGP - Portuguese Grand Prix - Algarve International Circuit, Portimao, Portugal - April 18, 2021 Repsol Honda's Pol Espargaro. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP's Fabio Quartararo, LCR Honda Castrol's Alex Marquez and Ducati Lenovo Team's Francesco Bagnaia during practice REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

(Reuters) - MotoGP rider Pol Espargaro will miss the season-opening Portuguese Grand Prix this weekend after the Spaniard suffered jaw, back and lung injuries in a heavy crash in practice, his team GasGas Factory Racing Tech3 said on Saturday.

The 31-year-old suffered a pulmonary contusion, jaw fracture and a fractured dorsal vertebra after he was thrown off his bike and hit the barrier.