British Superbikes: Rizla Suzuki's Cal Crutchlow to have arm operation

Cal Crutchlow may need an operation on his right arm he hurt in the first race crash at Donington Park on Sunday.

The Rizla Suzuki rider crashed at Goddards, taking British Superbike series leader Ryuichi Kiyonari with him in the first race.

Cal Crutchlow ignored the pain from his injured arm and took part in race two but retired with a broken gearbox. But later in the afternoon had to seek medical attention when his forearm started to swell.

“My forearm was about the size of my bicep yesterday and has got even worse overnight,” Cal Crutchlow told motorcyclenews.com this morning.

“The doctors have told me I have a blot clot in my arm and may need an operation to drain the fluids. They can’t syringe it because there’s so much and to repeatedly syringe it could cause infection.

“Instead they are talking about opening it up to drain off the fluid and check out the damage. Nothing is broken but it’s a bit battered in there.

“They reckon I’ll be able to do press-ups, go weight-training or even ride a bike within three days so it’s no big deal.”

Cal Crutchlow fully accepts he was the cause of the crash, which took down HM Plant Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari but was absolved of any dangerous riding by British Superbike’s officials who fully investigated the incident.

Cal Crutchlow said: “I got a false neutral going into Goddard and then caused the bike to speed up. Then it clicked back in and threw me off.

“Unfortunately Kiyo got caught up in the crash. I was so disappointed to knock him off, especially witch the championship at such a critical stage. But I was also disappointed for myself and the Rizla team because I really felt a podium was on the cards.

“I apologised to Kiyo who was really good about it, his mechanics and HM Plant Honda’s team boss Neil Tuxworth.  I think they know I’m not a reckless rider who goes around taking people out but I do admit the crash was my fault.”

Ironically one of Cal Crutchlow’s options for 2008 is with HM Plant Honda, as well as Rizla Suzuki.