Alex Rins: Fracture ‘not healed yet’, medical examination today

The Suzuki rider was diagnosed with a fracture to the pyramidal (triquetral) bone in his left wrist, plus ankle trauma, when he was tangled up in Takaaki Nakagami’s accident at Turn 1 in Barcelona.

Surgery was not required with the wrist instead immobilised before starting a programme of electromagnetic therapy and anti-inflammatory medication.

A medical check on Wednesday by Doctor Xavier Mir in Barcelona gave Rins the go ahead to travel to Germany, but the fracture is ‘not healed yet’ and Rins will still need to pass (an increasingly strict) MotoGP medical test to be allowed on track.

Dr. Mir said: “Alex Rins came to visit me on Wednesday morning before travelling to Germany to evaluate the shape of his wrist, we carried out some tests and it seems that the fracture is doing fine, but it’s not healed yet.

“It hasn't moved and is settling down. Alex wants to try to ride, but maybe he will need some painkillers and physiotherapy during these days.”

Rins added: “During this last week I have been working very hard to try to rehabilitate my wrist as much as possible.

“Following advice from the medical experts I have been sticking to a programme of recovery, and I’ve been trying to gain mobility and reduce the pain.

“I hope to arrive in good condition in Germany, and on Thursday I will have the final medical examinations with the MotoGP doctors at the circuit so they can tell me if I am fit to ride or not… and if I am then I’ll go for it!”

Rins’ accident continued a nightmare run of three non-scores since Suzuki’s post-Jerez decision to quit MotoGP.

Meanwhile, team-mate Joan Mir, who had also failed to finish the previous two races, finally brought a GSX-RR to the chequered flag in fourth at Barcelona (from 17th on the grid).

“Sachsenring is a really fun track to ride - it’s slow and tight, but it suits our bike quite well. It’s always a challenge, but I have had some good results here in the past and I’m hopeful for an enjoyable Sunday,” said Mir, who is still without a podium this season but was impressed by some new Suzuki aero and progress on corner entry issues at the Catalunya test.

“The test we had after the Catalan GP gave me a confidence boost and I’m really keen to put some of what we learned into play and see how it can help us moving into these next races.”

Rins and Mir are currently tied for seventh in the world championship, on 69 points.

Nakagami also plans to be back on track, for LCR Honda, this weekend.