Espargaro awaits extra medical checks

Pramac Ducati rider Espargaro and Suzuki's Alvaro Bautista collected Randy de Puniet's crashed LCR Honda on lap nine of the Sachsenring race, leaving de Puniet with a broken leg.

Espargaro thought he had escaped serious injury, with the initial diagnosis suggesting he had suffered cuts and bruises but no broken bones. However a subsequent x-ray in Chemnitz hospital indicated a fracture to his C7 vertebrae.

"I had x-rays in the mobile clinic and fortunately nothing was broken, while in Chemnitz's hospital, where I was taken to have further checks, they have found that my vertebra C7 is broken," said Espargaro.

"Tonight we will send the x-rays to Spain so that my doctor can see them and check if it is a new or old fracture.

"I am confident and I hope to attend the upcoming US Grand Prix."

The Laguna Seca race takes place in just one week's time on 25 July.