Alex Rins has had two titanium plates fitted to fix the left wrist he broke in practice in Austin, at the Americas GP. The Suzuki rider will be out for the next six to eight weeks, meaning he will miss at least Jerez, and most likely Le Mans and Mugello as well.
Suzuki test rider Takuya Tsuda, who was scheduled to be in Jerez for the official test on the Monday after the race, will replace Rins for the Spanish test, and most probably for the remaining races.
Rins crashed on Saturday morning in Austin, breaking his ulna and radius, the two bones in his forearm. It was a serious injury, both bones being fully broken and displaced.
The young Spaniard had preliminary treatment in Austin, the bones being put back in place, but surgery was only possible on Thursday, once the inflammation of the injury had subsided. At the Dexeus Institute in Barcelona, Rins had two titanium plates fitted to fix the bones in place.
It was not the only damage Rins sustained in the crash. In Barcelona, doctors also diagnosed damage to the ulnar nerve. This nerve runs from the elbow down to the hand, and helps operate the pinky and ring finger.
Rins is due to be reassessed in two weeks’ time, but even if the damage does prove permanent, it should not restrict his riding. Ulnar nerve damage tends to cause pain and tingling in the two fingers, and may cause some weakness.
But as it is in the left hand, the clutch hand, Rins should be able to strengthen his other fingers enough to compensate.
Rins is set to miss the Spanish round at Jerez in nine days’ time, and probably more. Doctors believe he will be out for between six and eight weeks, meaning that Rins would miss at least Jerez and Le Mans, and possibly Mugello as well.
Rins should be fit in time for his home Grand Prix in Barcelona, on June 11th. Rins will be replaced at Jerez by test rider Tsuda, who was scheduled to be present in Jerez anyway, as he will be taking part in the one-day test to be held on the Monday after the race.
Source: ECSTAR Suzuki
This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.
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