MotoGP: Baz to miss Assen as foot continues to heal

Loris Baz will miss another round of the 2016 MotoGP championship next weekend at Assen, as the foot injured when Alvaro Bautista took both him and Jack Miller off at Mugello continues to heal.

The Frenchman did significant damage to his foot in the crash at the Italian round over a month ago, and despite good progress he admits that he knows now he won’t be fit for the Dutch TT in a weeks’ time.

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“I’m really disappointed for not being able to ride in Assen. This was my target after the crash in Mugello. But to be honest, from the very first moment the doctors told me that being ready for Assen would be really difficult. I tried my best from the beginning, but I’ll have to wait until next Thursday to remove some metals I have on my foot, and it will be impossible to ride the bike just on Friday…

“It’s a shame because I love Assen and I have some good memories like the WSBK lap record. Last year I enjoyed racing there, but I’m eager to get back to my garage and work with my guys to solve the problems. I would like to be there, but I’m forced to wait a couple of weeks and head Germany with a stronger foot.”

Baz will once again be deputised by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, who is set to have started six of the season’s first eight races as re replaced first Danilo Petrucci and now Baz.

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