Update on Riders Condition
CAPIROSSI HEADS TO ASSEN FOR DUTCH TT RACE, GIBERNAU
RECOVERS IN BARCELONA. ALEX HOFMANN TO REPLACE THE CATALAN
RIDER
Sete Gibernau underwent an operation to fix the fracture
in his left collarbone today. The Spanish rider now needs
a period of recovery and he will be replaced by Alex Hofmann
at the Dutch TT. Loris Capirossi, undergoing physiotherapy
to get back in shape as soon as possible, is already on his
way to Assen.
Sete underwent surgery at Dexeus Hospital in Barcelona, where
Dr Xavier Mir and Dr Ignacio Ginebrera replaced the metal
plate already present in his collarbone from a previous incident
with a new one in titanium. Dr Mir declared that a recovery
period of 3-5 weeks will be necessary before the Spanish rider
can return to the track.
"The operation went well", declared Dr Mir. "We
removed the plate covering the old injury to Sete Gibernau's
left collarbone and repaired the new fracture by applying
a new titanium plate. The rider will now have to wait between
3 to 5 weeks before being able to race again".
Thanks to the Pramac d'Antin MotoGP Team and its sponsors,
Luis d'Antin, Paolo Campitoti and Alex Hofmann, the Italian
team will however be in a position to race both its Desmosedici
GP6 machines at the imminent race in the Netherlands, despite
the short period of time between Barcelona and Assen. For
the Dutch TT, Sete Gibernau will be replaced by the German
rider.
Loris Capirossi (2nd place in World Championship with
99 points)
After being kept in overnight for observation on Sunday at
Catalunya General Hospital, Loris returned to Monte Carlo
with his physiotherapist Roberto Brusi. Both men immediately
got down to work with a massage therapy aimed at eliminating
as quickly as possible the effects of the bruising Capirossi
received during the horrific first-corner incident at Barcelona.
The gutsy Italian rider is now on his way to Assen for the
Dutch TT race.
"That was a big crash but luckily I got off quite lightly.
I received a nasty blow to the chest, which is still bothering
me. My physiotherapist Roberto has been with me all the time
and we immediately began to work on rehab, with a series of
massages to help the bruising go down. I'd like to thank the
Clinica Mobile and Dr Costa, whose assistance as always has
been absolutely priceless. I'm not yet 100% fit but the important
thing is to get back on the bike as soon as possible and see
how it goes: I'm going to Assen with even more fighting spirit
than usual!"
Livio Suppo (Ducati MotoGP project leader)
"I am relieved to see that the consequences of last Sunday's
crash are being resolved relatively easily. Loris is undergoing
rehabilitation and is now on the way to the Netherlands in
his usual determined frame of mind. Sete has just come out
of the operating room and the doctors confirmed that the operation
was successful. We are very sorry that he has to miss the
next two GPs, but it could have been worse so we must breathe
a sigh of relief and hope that Sete completely recovers as
soon as possible. I would like to thank Alex Hofmann, Luis
D'Antin, Paolo Campitoti, all the Pramac D'Antin MotoGP Team
and their sponsors for the availability they have shown towards
us. Although the Assen race comes just 6 days after the incident
at Barcelona, we will now be in a position to line up with
both of our bikes".
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