HOFFMAN TAKEN OUT IN CRASH AT LAGUNA SECA GRAND PRIX, DAVIES
TO SUBSTITUTE
 The
Red Bull Laguna Seca Grand Prix kicked off at 10AM Friday
morning, when the riders took to the track under gorgeous
California sunshine and balmy weather conditions so different
from the heat wave the year prior.
6 Laps into the first free practice session, Alex Hofmann,
still recovering from an injured right hand, was brutally
knocked off-track and into his Ducati when Sylvain Guintoli,
himself a Laguna Seca and MotoGP rookie, missed his braking
marker coming into the infamous Corkscrew, and collided with
Hofmann at a high rate of speed.
Hofmann was able to stand immediately after the accident,
but it was obvious that his left hand had been severely damaged
by the charging Yamaha, and he grimaced in pain while his
helmet and gloves were removed.
Due to Laguna Seca’s lack of frontage roads surrounding
the track, the practice was Red-Flagged to clear the track
of all riders so that an ambulance could carry Hofmann to
the onsite medical center. He was then airlifted to the Surgery
Center in San Francisco where he underwent a three hour surgery
to repair damage to all the broken bones in his hand, including
a split second metacarpal.
The Team was devastated to have lost Alex for the moment,
and after travelling all the way to California from Sachsenring,
it was decided that a second rider would be fielded. Former
250cc Grand Prix racer, Chaz Davies, was selected and his
MotoGP baptism will be a trial of fire. Riding the Laguna
raceway for the first time earlier in the morning on a 600,
he took to the track in the second free practice session aboard
the mighty Ducati Desmosedici GP7, determined to learn more
about the bike, the notoriously tricky circuit, and Bridgestone
tires.
Alex Barros rode, despite being in pain from his crashes
in Germany, but was unable to truly lay down the laptimes
he was looking for. The Brazilian will rest and recover tonight
and come back stronger tomorrow.
Alex Barros (1’24.457 – 24 laps): “For
me, it wasn’t an easy day. My hand was particularly
painful and I wasn’t able to ride well. Today I tried
to ride without the aid of anaesthesia, but it was really
impossible because I simply had too much pain. I was convinced
that my hand was going to be a little better from last weekend,
but now I know that I can’t ride like I normally do,
and for this reason I didn’t get a good lap time. Overall,
I’m satisfied as regard the bike. We found a good set-up
and the tires, too, worked very well. I’m confident
that if I didn’t have this injury I could achieve a
better result. Anyway, tomorrow before the start of the session,
I will take an anaesthetic injection so it’s less painful.
I’m confident for the race, but we still have big range
to improve.”
Chaz Davies (1’26.459 – 26 laps):
“I don’t know what can I say, I’m simply
surprised. I never thought about something like this. Riding
with the best bike and tires of this moment, isn’t a
possibility that everyone has. I have never ridden both on
this track and in MotoGP, but when the Pramac d’Antin
Team made me this proposal, I couldn’t refuse, because
it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. There was just
a half hour before the afternoon practice when I saw the Team
coordinator coming; for a moment I didn’t understand,
then, when I thought back to Hofmann’s crash I suddenly
understood. I’m very happy for this opportunity, and
I would to say thank you to the Pramac d’Antin Team,
and also, get well to the Hoff.”
Luis d’Antin – Team manager:
“Alex Hofmann’s crash was very bad for us. This
was one of Alex’s favourite tracks and he was strongly
motivated to ride on Sunday, but unfortunately MotoGP can
also be like this. At the beginning we didn’t know the
best decision to take, then, we chose Chaz Davies to replace
Hofmann on Sunday. For Chaz, it was his first day on this
track and in the MotoGP class, too, but in this difficult
situation he did relatively well. I’m confident that
from now until Sunday, he will continue to improve.”
Official Times:
1°Casey Stoner: 1’22.997
2°Marco Meandri: 1’23.177
3°John Hopkins: 1’23.452
4°Colin Edwards: 1’23.535
5°Dani Pedrosa: 1’23.548
16° Alex Barros: 1’24.457
20° Chaz Davies: 1’26.459
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