More injuries force Spies out of round 3 this weekend at Jerez
American forced to sit out Spanish round due to chest and back injuries
Ben Spies, Pramac Racing Team
Hazrin Yeob Men Shah
Ben Spies’ 2013 MotoGP campaign had already got off to a bad start with the American rider still recovering from surgery on his shoulder, he has now been forced to pull out of this weekend’s MotoGP race at Jerez, Spain after being advised by medical staff to do so. Spies sustained an injury to his right pectoral muscle and also certain back muscles.
We need to work harder and get back to 100% because we’re definitely not there, physically, right now.
Speaking to motogp.com after the Austin race Spies said, “This morning we had a little bit of a problem with a nerve in my chest, for some reason. I don’t know whether it was over-compensating with my shoulder, but my shoulder has got a lot better from Qatar which is really, really good.
“Two laps from the end of the Warm-Up I had a twinge in my chest and it felt like there was a knife in it. I don’t know what happened. We went to the Clinica Mobile; they worked with me a lot and got me ready for the race…we need to work harder and get back to 100% because we’re definitely not there, physically, right now,” Spies added.
Spies made the decision in the middle of last week after being checked over multiple times by a medical team who have now advised him to take the necessary time off to focus on recovering to as close to 100% as he can and his Ignite Pramac Racing Team believe that he will be ready for the fourth round at Le Mans in France in less than four weeks’ time.
The announcement by Spies’ team reads, ‘Unfortunately, the pain felt by the Ignite Pramac Racing Team rider at the end of the warm up during last weekend in Austin (Texas), has had more serious consequences than expected. As a result, Ben Spies will not be able to race at the next round of the Championship, held on May 5th in Jerez, Spain. After taking part regularly in the Texan race, in which he finished in 13th position, the American rider was seen by his medical staff, who advised him three consecutive weeks of intense rehab in order to alleviate the strain in his pectorals and back muscles.
Despite the constant improvement in the condition of his shoulder after recent surgery, Ben still needs further intense work to build up his muscle, and to acquire the necessary strength which will enable him to endure the stress during the race. Therefore the therapy will be different to what he has done so far, focused on limb mobility, thanks to his better physical condition. These three weeks of therapy will allow the Texan to be back for the Le Mans race,’ the statement concludes.
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