Injured Nakano forced to curtail season early

Injury prevents Shinya Nakano from completing his maiden World Superbike season with Aprilia.

23 Oct 2009

Nakano, bandages on neck, German WSBK Race 1 2009
© Gold and Goose

Shinya Nakano will not be present for the final round of the 2009 World Superbike Championship after deciding his neck injury is not yet fully healed.

The Japanese rider has missed the last two rounds of competition after complaining of neck pains, but was scheduled to ride a third Aprilia RSV-4 at the season ending Portimao round.

However, while Nakano says 'everyday life is no problem', he adds that the lengthy journey from Japan to Portugal, coupled to three days of riding, is likely to prove too difficult for him.

His withdrawal curtails a maiden season of World Superbike racing in which Nakano has struggled to get on terms with team-mate Max Biaggi. Although flashes of a brilliance saw him battling for the podium in only his second outing at Qatar, Nakano's seven top ten finishes have left him down in 14th position overall in the standings.