Aleix Espargaro said he was “almost crying” after watching his younger brother Pol make an emotional return to Portimao — the circuit where Pol suffered a major crash in 2023.
That accident left Pol with fractures to his neck, vertebrae, ribs and jaw, plus a lung injury. His recovery was long and painful, even leaving him 1.5cm shorter and unable to open his mouth for weeks.
Although Pol returned later in 2023, he wasn’t fully fit and moved into a KTM test-rider role from 2024. When KTM’s wild-cards were cancelled this year, it seemed he would miss a full season — until he was called up to replace the injured Maverick Viñales for five races.
His final replacement appearance took him back to Portimao, and Pol delivered a standout performance: fifth in FP1 after an early fall, then direct Q2 entry with ninth in FP2.
Aleix said Pol’s determination and bravery were incredible, especially given everything he had gone through. He praised Pol for proving to himself — not to others — that he’s still fast.
Pol reached Q2 in four of his five races and scored top-10 finishes in nearly every grand prix, even drawing interest from WorldSBK teams. But after long discussions, Aleix believes Pol made the right choice by staying as a KTM test rider.
