TONI ELÍAS TO MISS MUGELLO
A press conference took place at 1pm this afternoon at the
"Institut Universitari Dexeus de Barcelona", where
Fortuna Yamaha rider Toni Elías underwent an operation
yesterday. The Spanish rider crashed just five minutes from
the end of a day of private tests being carried out by his
team at Le Mans on Monday. The Fortuna Yamaha rider, who had
been on top form over the three days of the French Grand Prix,
crashed at the chicane of the legendary circuit. Elías
fractured the radius and scaphoid of his left wrist and ruptured
the ligaments that link the triquetral bone and the radius.
The rider also fractured the outside of his left fibula. Doctor
Xavier Mir informed the media representatives present at the
press conference of the full details of the injury to the
Fortuna Yamaha rider
Xavier Mir, Doctor at the "Insitut Universitari Dexeus
de Barcelona"
"Toni's operation was a case of fitting a titanium plate
to his radius with a screw in his scaphoid, and the stitching
of the ligaments that join the triquetral bone and the radius.
The recuperation period for a normal person is around eight
weeks, although taking into account Toni's incredible capacity
for recovery, I wouldn't rule out his return at the Grand
Prix of Catalunya."
Toni Elías (24):
Lap time in private test: 1'34
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITION: 14th with 15 points.
"We stayed on for an extra day of tests at Le Mans.
Up to then things had been going really well - I was lapping
in
1'34, about a second faster than I had done in the race and
only three-hundredths off Valentino's time. It was a shame
but that's racing In any case I'm in good spirits and I'm
already looking forward to getting back on the bike. I would
like to thank my whole team in general for their
constant support, my sponsors and particularly Doctor Xavier
Mir."
Hervé Poncharal, FORTUNA YAMAHA TeamDirector
"I'm really sad about Toni Elías' injury. Toni
is demonstrating the massive potential he has and he had shown
that once again on Sunday in the race. On Monday he was having
a magnificent session when, unfortunately, he crashed. I wish
him a speedy recovery and I hope that he can be back with
us again soon. I would like to give my ow special thanks to
Dr. Mir and all his team for everything they have done".
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