Having damaged his recently re-plated collarbone, and broken his hand, when he struck
Casey Stoner's fallen bike in Sunday's Portuguese Grand Prix, Sete Gibernau has opted for a 'special treatment' in the hope of being fit for the
MotoGP season finale on October 29.
Following initial medical checks in the Clinica Mobile immediately after the accident (pictured), the Ducati Marlboro rider left Estoril to undergo a further medical check. This confirmed a fracture of the fifth metacarpal bone in his right hand and damage to one of the plates previously inserted in his left collarbone.
In the last four months Gibernau has undergone two operations to repair the collarbone break following his turn one accident at Catalunya and now, following medical advice, has opted for a more conservative treatment under the care of Dr Angel Villamor of the San José Hospital in Madrid.
At first another operation was considered, but it was finally decided to opt for a non-invasive technique under local anaesthetic. This consists of the application of cells extracted from Gibernau's hip which will then be injected into the two injured areas.
The results will then be analysed to establish a period of recovery and verify whether or not Gibernau can race in the Valencian Grand Prix - an event that looks like being his last for Ducati, which is believed to signed 21-year-old Stoner to replace him next season.
With Carlos Checa moving to Stoner's Honda LCR team,
Colin Edwards staying at Camel Yamaha and
Toni Elias thought to have kept his seat with his stunning debut win, Gibernau's remaining 2007 options are at Kawasaki, Pramac d'Antin Ducati, Tech 3 Yamaha or the new Ilmor team.
