Hector Barbera begins recovery from broken leg

Hector Barbera has started the recovery process from a broken left leg that will certainly rule him out of this weekend’s US Grand Prix at the Laguna Seca track in California.

The Pramac Ducati rider suffered a broken left tibia and fibula in a training accident last Friday.

He underwent successful surgery at the Instituto Universitario USP Dexeus in Barcelona yesterday (Sunday) but doctors expect the Spaniard’s rehabilitation to take between four and six weeks.

The surgery was carried out by Dr Xavier Mir and chief leg surgeon Dr Eugenio Jimeno and a titanium plate and several screws were inserted into the left leg to stabilise the broken bones.

Barbera could also be ruled out of the forthcoming Indianapolis round on August 19 and he said: “I’m feeling quite good. Obviously I’m disappointed about the incident. It happened in the worst period possible.

“I had a great feeling both with my bike and with my crew. In the last three races I was able to enjoy while I was riding and fighting with the factory riders to achieve the best result possible.

“I could catch other brilliant results in the next round in Laguna Seca and Indy, but it’s the life and now I have to think only about my injury and my rehabilitation.”

The Pramac Ducati squad has not yet announced a replacement for Barbera in Laguna Seca, but former Moto2 rider Kenny Noyes is the team’s contracted replacement rider.

French rider Sylvain Guintoli, who recently split from the Effenbert Liberty Ducati World Superbike squad, is also believed to be in the frame.