Bradl out of remaining WorldSBK rounds with injury
Stefan Bradl has been ruled out of the remaining two rounds of the 2017 World Superbike championship due to a wrist injury sustained at Portimao two weeks ago.
The Red Bull Honda rider was forced out of race two in Portugal with a painful right wrist having high-sided out of the Portimao opener. After undergoing medical checks in his home country, the German rider was diagnosed with a torn scaphulonate ligament in his right wrist and underwent surgery to fix the injury on Thursday (28th September).
Stefan Bradl has been ruled out of the remaining two rounds of the 2017 World Superbike championship due to a wrist injury sustained at Portimao two weeks ago.
The Red Bull Honda rider was forced out of race two in Portugal with a painful right wrist having high-sided out of the Portimao opener. After undergoing medical checks in his home country, the German rider was diagnosed with a torn scaphulonate ligament in his right wrist and underwent surgery to fix the injury on Thursday (28th September).
Red Bull Honda has confirmed Bradl’s doctors have inserted pins and a wire for fix the torn ligament and he has been forced into a seven-week rehabilitation schedule which rules him out of the remaining two rounds at Jerez and Losail. The former MotoGP star was already sitting out Magny-Cours and has been replaced by Jake Gagne for the French round.
“Obviously it’s quite a difficult time for me, as it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that I won’t be able to race for the rest of the season,” Bradl said. “I have to stay positive, though, and try to do everything needed to make sure that my hand and wrist are fully healed.
“Rest is now priority number one for the healing process. Luck hasn’t been on our side this year, but I couldn’t imagine that the consequences of my crash in Portimao were going to be so severe.
“I want to thank everybody who worked with me this year: it hasn’t been an easy one, not only from the sporting side but also for the tragedy we all had to endure early on. There’s not much I can do right now, but I will follow the races on TV and support the team from here.”
Red Bull Honda has confirmed a second medical evaluation will be given on Bradl’s condition on Wednesday 11th October in order to schedule a second surgery to remove the pins and wire.
The team has not confirmed who will replace Bradl for the remaining two rounds of the season.
Davide Giugliano is already filling in on the other side of the factory Honda garage for the French round alongside Bradl’s replacement Gagne. Takumi Takahashi is returning for the team at Jerez, but currently the team is without a second rider for the Spanish round and any riders for the season finale in Qatar.
