Aoyama out of Jerez

KTM rider, Hiroshi Aoyama, will miss the next round of the 250 grand prix after sustaining injuries in a crash at Qatar.

The crash, suffered at the first meeting of the 2007 season, left the Red Bull KTM 250 rider with considerable damaged to his skin and tendons of the little finger on his right hand.

The Japanese rider immediately flew back to Barcelona and underwent surgery to his right hand to have tendons reconstructed and his finger immobilised with a pin.

Aoyama said: “My finger injury was not that serious, but I still spent two days in the hospital, because there was a lot of sand in the wound, and I had to undergo a thorough antibiotic treatment to avoid a possible infection.”

The operation was carried out at the famous Clinica Santiago Dexeus by Dr Xavier Mir, who has helped many athletes and motorcyclists over the years.

“The operation itself went very well, Dr. Xavier Mir re-joined the tendon with artificial material and put a pin into my finger to keep it still. I can’t move it and I have to keep it straight for a total of ten days, then the pin will come out again.

The 25-year-old added: “Of course I would like to race in Jerez, at least for some points, but I respect my doctor’s recommendations.

“Xavi has done a fantastic job with the operation, I am very happy – in fact, the finger looks better now than before.“