Colin Edwards 'feeling great' after surgery

"The bone was broken in five pieces and required the insertion of a titanium plate with ten screws"

08 May 2012

Edwards, Spanish MotoGP 2012
© Gold and Goose

MotoGP star Colin Edwards underwent surgery to help heal his broken left collarbone, on Monday in Barcelona.

The Forward Racing rider broke his collarbone when fellow CRT rider Randy de Puniet fell and collected the Texan in qualifying at Estoril on Saturday.

The surgery took place at Barcelona's Insitituto Universitario Dexeus. Dr. Javier Mir, who operated on Edwards after he broke a collarbone at Catalunya last season, again performed the surgery, which lasted approximately two hours.

"The bone was broken in 5 pieces and required the insertion of a titanium plate with ten screws," said Mir. "The surgery performed was successful and he will be able to begin rehabilitation/physical therapy within a week. He will remain in the Instituto Universitario Dexeus in Barcelona for now."

Edwards will be re-examined on Tuesday, to determine when he is likely to return to his Suter-BMW.

The 38-year-old will most likely remain in hospital until his expected return to the USA this Wednesday.

"Doctor Mir and his team have done a great job," said Edwards. "They were the ones that took care of me the last time. The surgery was really quick. I'm feeling great, still a little dizzy from the anesthesia but feeling all right.

"They put a block on the side of my neck so its feeling a little numb. I'm here watching TV and tweeting. Just want to let everyone know I'm ok!"

Edwards took a podium finish for Tech 3 just one week after his 2011 Catalunya accident, but suffered further shoulder injuries in Marco Simoncelli's fatal accident at Sepang last October.

Round four of the MotoGP championship takes place at Le Mans, France, from May 18-20.

Edwards has been inviting suggestions for who should replace him if he is not fit for Le Mans via his Twitter page (@TexasTornado5): "So if u had a choice: Leon Haslam or Chris Vermeulen to ride my bike in Le Mans?"

Edwards also sent the following Tweet after receiving his medical bill: "EUR12,000 for a fixed collarbone... I'm in the wrong f'n business!!!!"