Britain’s Cal Crutchlow is to undergo arthroscopic surgery after his crash at the weekend’s Spanish MotoGP round.
Scans showed the Honda rider suffered a tiny fracture to the left scaphoid bone, but remains hopeful of competing at the next event on the calendar.
After a crash in morning warm-up, Crutchlow was forced to sit out the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, after he was declared unfit by MotoGP medical officers.
The British rider suffered a heavy spill at turn eight at the end of the 20-minute session, and although he was back on his feet, he was taken to hospital in Jerez for a precautionary CAT scan – which initially showed negative results.
However, Crutchlow was diagnosed with concussion and neck trauma, with the medical team decided that, for safety reasons, they wanted the Briton to rest up for a minimum of eight hours, which meant his participation in the Spanish Grand Prix wasn’t possible.
Immediately after the MotoGP race, Crutchlow returned to the hospital in Jerez for further checks on his left wrist after feeling increasing pain. Scan results showed a tiny fracture on his left scaphoid bone.
In consultation with MotoGP medical staff, it has been confirmed that Crutchlow will undergo arthroscopic surgery to insert a small fixing pin to assist healing. Depending on the MotoGP medical team’s checks, Crutchlow will be allowed to participate in next weekend’s Andalusian GP if everything goes as planned.
“Unfortunately this morning in the last lap of the warm-up I crashed going into turn eight,” said Crutchlow. “It seemed that when I braked on the kerb, the front of the bike slid and I was unable to save the crash. What was going to be a normal crash escalated when I went into the deep gravel trap and started tumbling, hitting my head quite a few times, particularly my face. I was a bit dazed after the crash, and a bit sore in my whole body, especially my hands.
“After further assessment at the medical centre I was sent for the CT scan on my head and neck and it all came back fine. With the facial bruising I had, however, Dr. Angel Charté felt I needed eight hours rest, which I think was the right decision.
“When I returned to the circuit I began to feel some pain in my left wrist, so went for another scan of the scaphoid, which it seems has been broken in the crash. Dr. Mir will operate on the wrist in Barcelona this week, and I will return to the circuit on Friday and hopefully to action. I look forward to seeing the LCR Honda CASTROL Team there, and hopefully to work hard with them again next weekend.”
Meanwhile, Crutchlow says he’s “not really interested” in taking up Honda’s offer to move over to its works-backed World Superbike project next season.
HRC confirmed Crutchlow’s upcoming exit, with Alex Marquez being moved to take his place while Pol Espargaro switches from KTM to the factory Honda squad in 2021.
While Crutchlow has expressed interest at a move to Aprilia, and says he has spoken to Ducati about a possible return, Honda boss Alberto Puig said that the offer of a WSBK move is there if he wants it.
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