Neukirchner back on the recovery trail

Max Neukirchner is remaining in a positive frame of mind as he prepares to endure a second lengthy stint on the sidelines with a broken vertebra, just days after returning to action from a previous injury.

The Suzuki Alstare Brux rider was participating in the annual mid-season World Superbike test at Imola, the first time he had been on the bike since breaking his leg in a first turn accident at Monza more than two months earlier.

However, the German high-sided at Tamburello on the second morning, falling heavily and requiring a trip to hospital to undergo medical checks. X-rays went on to reveal that he has broken a vertebra and is now required to spend a month with a cast around his torso to stabilise the injury.

Speaking about the accident afterwards, Neukirchner is unsure of why he fell, but is now focusing his attentions on making another full recovery.

"I am not sure why I crashed, but I have injured myself some more and so I must start the recovery process all over again" he declared. "Yesterday was not so bad and I showed that I could ride the bike OK after some weeks away. I was looking forward to a second full day on the track, so it was a big pity that I fell.

"It seems that I have cracked or damaged some vertebra and so I must go back to my hospital in Germany and get everything checked out. Once that is done, my doctors will work out a programme for me and I will start treatment/rehabilitation or whatever. I have done this before, so I know I can do it again."