So before we get on with the good news and excitement coming this weekend with the MXGP of USA we need to get to grips with the not so good… Who’s in and who’s out…
Who’s coming back?
Ok so the list is pretty thin on this side, but for good reason! The injury list has not changed to any degree over the latter part of the season which is amazing news.
#Jordi Tixier
This was a great name to see coming back for the USA race as it is pretty uncommon for riders or teams to make a comeback at a ‘fly’ race. The expense of transporting the rider, team and all the equipment is not pocket change so i was pumped when i saw the Monster Energy KRT team sticking with their man and getting him to the GP for the first time since Locket!
Who’s out for USA?
#Bernoit Paturel
I guess we have to start the bad news now and Paturel has been in the thick of it this year. The 2017 season was to be his last on a 250 so we were all wishing him the best but a series of bad starts have kept his finishes far from where he would want them. Now, unfortunately, his season is over after a crash during training after Uddevalla where he sustained multiple internal injuries. Heal up well mate.
Jose Burtron
After sitting out a few races with what was thought to be a small ankle injury, it turns out that is far worse that was initially diagnosed. He will definitely have to sit out USA but there is a slight chance he will be ok to ride in Assen.
Arnaud Tonas
Ok so this was the most confusing update of the lot! After a crash at the Swiss GP it was reported that the Wilvo Yamaha MXGP rider had broken his collarbone. Then after the race the manager corrected everyone saying that it was actually a broken sternum. Tonus then took to social media and reported he has a broken rib… confused yet? Either way we are all hoping he makes it back for the final round.
Iker Larranaga Olano
After picking up a fractured fibula during the Swiss GP #66 (a number close to my heart) flew to spain for treatment and further tests. This is not good news for the Spanish MXON team as it is looking like they will need to draft in someone else.
Bas Vaessen
Sometimes a rider just can’t catch a break! He has had some horrible luck this season and it took swing at Lommel where he picked up a collarbone injury. What doesn’t seem to have been picked up by many though is that he actually finished 20th! Pretty amazing with an injury!
Freek Van Der Vlist
To keep up with the fashion of collarbone injuries, Van Der Vlist returned from breaking his at the Belgian GP and came away with a shoulder injury :( He is still not back riding and there is no date set for his return. When bad luck hits... it hits hard!
David Herbreteau
Herbreteau was pumped to get back into the mix as he loves riding deep sand at Lommel, unfortunatly another bad luck roll saw him disslocate his shoulder in practice... There is no news currelty as to the full extent of his injury but the silence probobally means he will sit out the rest of the season, heal up well #338!
Petar Petrov
Petrov has confirmed he will sit out the rest of the FIM Championship this year. He picked up a nasty shoulder injury at Ottobiano which means he will have to miss the last chance he had to clinch a 250 title. Age forces him up into the big boy MXGP class next year! I wish him luck in this next chapter.
Valentin Guillod
Valentin showed amazing pace this year and even took the Swiss GP and was heading into Loket with some great momentum! Unfortunatly a previous hand injury could not take the punishment and #92 had to withdraw and has been sidelined for another two months as a result. Valentin is confident he will be back for the final round and he is doing his best to retain his place on the Swiss MXON team.
Samuele Bernardini
A knee ligiment tear means Bernardini is out and done for the season, these are simply the worst thing to happen to any rider. This also means his team has had to bring in a replacement rider for TM Factory Racing, this is bad news for Samuele as his contract runs out at the end of this season. I wish him luck in his recovery and i hope he can regroup and win back trust.
Vsevolod Brylyakov
Having a paralyzed shoulder muscle means that the rider has taken the best choice and decided to sit out this round. There is no set date for his return but he has already undergone some additional surgery over the last few weeks. It has been reported that Brylyakov will be riding a Kemea Yamaha though when he returns.
Adam Sterry
After almost clinching a season best finish at Europes GP Sterry was involved in a nasty crash which left him with a torn ACL. As i said above knee injurys are the worst of the worse and are usually an instant ticket out of the current season. True to that form, Adam will not ride again for Monster Energy KRT MX2 as his contract ended at the begining of August. This means is is now looking for a new ride for next season and i wish him the best.
Jake Nicholls
As i reported in this post Nicholls has really had some crap luck this year, he somehow disslocated his hip without even falling off or crashing and called it time on his MXGP career. There is good news though as he is now riding for fun and i hope he gets back to what he knows best and finds himself :)
