MotoGP: Crutchlow faces long road to recovery

LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow is facing a long road to recovery after badly breaking his ankle a month ago at the Australian Grand Prix, Breaking it in three places after being pushed off the track by gusting wind, he’s admitted that the break has turned out to be more severe than originally thought

Suffering a worse break than initially thought, he’s aiming for a return to action at the first of next year’s official tests at Sepang in early February. Still unable to bear weight for on the ankle for another fortnight – and to make a return to training until that process is completed – the Brit is nonetheless confident that he’ll be back on his factory RC213V sooner rather than later.

“First of all, I would like to say thank you for all the well wishes I have received since the Friday of Philip Island. To all the medical staff at the circuit, my LCR Honda team, HRC and everyone who came to visit me while I was in hospital in Melbourne, especially my wife Lucy who travelled to be with me for the 12 days I had to stay. Also, Jake Harrison and Andy Roche for sorting everything out and, of course, our team manager Lucio who stayed with me every day until he went to Malaysia.

“I had excellent surgeons in Matthias Russ and Dr Evans who initially put an external fixator on my leg until the swelling went down and they could operate, which was 6 days later. The crash resulted in a Pilon fracture of my tibia, fibula and talus bone. The surgery was completed in three and half hours and, along with reconstruction with artificial bone, two metal plates and eight screws were inserted.

“The injury I have can take a recovery time of up to 12 months and, although as a typical motorcycle racer I thought I would be back in time for Valencia, unfortunately this is not the case. I can’t put any weight on my ankle for six weeks, but am continuing to recover and having physiotherapy. This week I will start to try and cycle again and look forward to preparing for Sepang in February 2019.”

Crutchlow will once again be replaced on the LCR Honda this weekend at the Valencian Grand Prix by Honda test rider Stefan Bradl.