Photo: motogp.com
Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Jack Miller is not sure about taking part in the first official pre-season test at Sepang in early February after breaking a leg in a motocross training session. Miller, 21, sustained fractures to both his right tibia and fibula, and was taken to the Hospital University Quirón Dexeus in Barcelona to be examined by Doctor Xavier Mir.
Dr. Mir was the one to confirm the diagnostic, but it looks like the two fractures are not as bad as Miller's team feared in the first place. The Australian rider underwent surgery to reduce the fractures and stabilize them with plates and screws under the supervision of Dr. Eugenio Gimeno.
Miller will remain under observation in the hospital for the next 48 hours. So far, Miller's presence in the first pre-season test at Sepang is uncertain, with the medical team saying that his condition will be assessed nearer to that time.
The incident occurred before a triple jump, and Miller's landing was a very hard one, with the force of the impact breaking the bones in his ankle.
The doctors will examine him ahead of the Sepang test and determine if he can put enough weight on the right leg to support his body through the turns.
Michael Bartholemy, Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Principal, also told motogp.com, “Jack was unfortunate to sustain an injury so close to the start of pre-season testing, but riders need to train and there is always some risk when you train on the MX bike. The good news is that the injury is not quite as severe as we first thought and that the surgery was successful.
“For a normal person the recovery period after such an injury would be long, but racers aren’t normal people and I’m sure Jack is keen to get back on a bike as soon as possible. What is important now is that we monitor his recovery and that he rides again only when he is fit enough to do so, even if that means him missing the first of the MotoGP pre-season tests in Sepang.”
Anyway, it looks like Sepang is not exactly the biggest problem for VDS in MotoGP. It looks like the team is not yet certain about what package Honda will provide for 2016, and the mechanics are trying to figure out how to work with the new electronics. Even if Miller misses the Sepang test, Tito Rabat should provide enough feedback for a base setup, with the second test at Phillip Island hopefully setting things straight, and having both riders on the track.
Miller will remain under observation in the hospital for the next 48 hours. So far, Miller's presence in the first pre-season test at Sepang is uncertain, with the medical team saying that his condition will be assessed nearer to that time.
A very hard landing caused the fractures, not a crash
On social media, Jack Miller revealed that he had not crashed at the Bellpuig motocross circuit. He was forced to roll off the throttle up-ramp, to avoid colliding with another rider who had lost control of the bike.The incident occurred before a triple jump, and Miller's landing was a very hard one, with the force of the impact breaking the bones in his ankle.
The doctors will examine him ahead of the Sepang test and determine if he can put enough weight on the right leg to support his body through the turns.
Michael Bartholemy, Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Principal, also told motogp.com, “Jack was unfortunate to sustain an injury so close to the start of pre-season testing, but riders need to train and there is always some risk when you train on the MX bike. The good news is that the injury is not quite as severe as we first thought and that the surgery was successful.
“For a normal person the recovery period after such an injury would be long, but racers aren’t normal people and I’m sure Jack is keen to get back on a bike as soon as possible. What is important now is that we monitor his recovery and that he rides again only when he is fit enough to do so, even if that means him missing the first of the MotoGP pre-season tests in Sepang.”
Anyway, it looks like Sepang is not exactly the biggest problem for VDS in MotoGP. It looks like the team is not yet certain about what package Honda will provide for 2016, and the mechanics are trying to figure out how to work with the new electronics. Even if Miller misses the Sepang test, Tito Rabat should provide enough feedback for a base setup, with the second test at Phillip Island hopefully setting things straight, and having both riders on the track.
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