Savadori out of 2018 World Superbike opener with injury

Lorenzo Savadori has been ruled out of the 2018 World Superbike season opener at Phillip Island after suffering a fractured left collarbone in a qualifying crash.

The Milwaukee Aprilia rider had topped the combined times from Friday practice at the Australian circuit which handed him an automatic spot in Superpole 2 in qualifying. The Italian rider suffered a nasty off at turn six which red-flagged the session to ensure Savadori was safely attended to by the medical team.

After being transported to the Phillip Island medical centre it was confirmed the factory Aprilia rider had sustained a fractured left collarbone which means he’ll take no further part in the 2018 opening race weekend.

Savadori will now be in a race against time to bounce back from the injury to be fit for the second round of the season at Thailand’s Buriram International Circuit on March 23-25.

Speaking after topping the combined times on Friday, Savadori was quietly confident with his Aprilia RSV4-RF package heading into the season opener.

“Aprilia Racing and SMR have worked really hard over the winter on the bike so we have good speed in all conditions,” Savadori said. “The top riders are still quick for sure, but we have made a lot of progress and I think we have shown this.”

Savadori’s teammate Eugene Laverty, who has qualified second on the grid for the opening race at Phillip Island, will become the sole rider for Milwaukee Aprilia for the remainder of the race weekend in Australia.