CANEPA OBLIGATED TO MISS VALENCIA RACE: ESPARGARO' ON TRACK AGAIN
He hoped until the last moment but Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing rider,
is obligated to skip the last race of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship
after the injury suffered during the Australian Grand Prix last 16th of
October. After surgery with the skin transplant at Melbourne hospital,
the Italian rider had to miss the race in Malaysia, but after today's
medical check up doctors have suggested leaving the arm at rest for a bit
longer to avoid the reopening of the cut. As a consequence the Pramac
Racing Team has chosen to bring on track again Aleix Espargaro; the
Catalan rider will have therefore the possibility to ride for the first
time as a MotoGP rider on Spanish soil after the three races in
Indianapolis, Misano and Sepang.
Paolo Campinoti - Pramac Racing Team Principal
"We are very sad that Niccolo will not make it to race with us this last
Grand Prix of the season. Last year he has done a quite good job here
during the first winter test and he could have achieved a good result
also in this occasion. We would like to thank him for the work done this
year and we wish him the best of luck for a future rich of success
whichever road he will take. He is a talented rider who has to accumulate
more experience to come back at the top level. His place will be taken
once again by Aleix Espargaro: in every race he has competed with us this
season he has done quite well and we confide he will be able to do the
same this weekend in Valencia."
Niccolo Canepa - Pramac Racing rider
"I am very sad as I will not be able to step on track this weekend at
Valencia. I really cared about competing in this last Grand Prix of the
season to end it with a good result. I want to thank the Pramac Racing
Team, Paolo Campinoti and Ducati Corse for this fantastic experience I
have lived. Now I will have to think about getting back at the best
physical conditions and go back on track whichever will be my next sport
adventure."
Mika Kallio - Pramac Racing rider
"We are back in Valencia after the first test ridden on my Ducati
Desmosedici GP9 Sat of the past season. In that occasion I registered
really interesting lap times and we hope to be able to repeat this coming
weekend. In this final part of the season we didn't conquered what we
deserved and we confide to do it here. I am very sorry for Niccolo: I
hope he will be able to be back at the top soon to continue his still
young career."
Aleix Espargaro - Pramac Racing rider
"First of all I want to wish to Niccolo Canepa a quick recovery: I hope
to see him back on track really soon. For me this will be a really
particular weekend full of emotions: it will be my first Grand Prix as a
MotoGP rider on Spanish soil. I will race in front of my fans and I hope
to don't disappoint them. In the previous races ridden with the Pramac
Racing Team I went quite well but I still have to improve a lot to
compete for better positions. Naturally I still need some time, I am
still the rider with the less experience in this category and I have a
lot to learn."
-credit: pramac
