Covid: Iker Lecuona forced to withdraw from Valencia MotoGP

Tech3 KTM has announced that Iker Lecuona will not be able to take part in this weekend's first Valencia MotoGP round.

Although Lecuona passed the usual pre-race PCR (Covid-19) test, a positive result for his brother and assistant prevents him from travelling to Valencia this week.

The Spaniard, who lives with his brother in Andorra, will undergo another PCR test today in order to confirm his own negative result.

But regardless of the outcome, due to the Andorran legislation, Lecuona is forced to quarantine himself for 10 days and will not be allowed to start the European Grand Prix. 

Lecuona and Tech3 now have their fingers crossed that he will able to return for Valencia II, next weekend.

“We are very sad to announce that Iker Lecuona won’t be participating in the Gran Premio de Europa this weekend," said team manager Herve Poncharal. "So far, he’s tested negative, but his brother, who is also his assistant is positive and therefore the Andorran authorities have called him a ‘contact case’.

"He will have another test today, but even if it’s negative again, he’s got to stay in quarantine without moving from his home in Andorra for 10 days.

"The plan is to have another test next Wednesday and if this one is negative as well, he will be able to travel to Valencia and participate in Valencia II.

"This is very unfortunate, everybody was very careful. We are deeply sorry for that. We just hope that Iker will keep negative on the next tests and that we can see him next week here.

"Don’t forget, this is his home Grand Prix and he and the team were expecting so much from these two races, that it’s a real pity. But with how the world is at the moment, unfortunate things like this are happening. Again, we hope everything will be back to normal next week.

"Of course, he won’t be replaced for this event, therefore the whole Red Bull KTM Tech3 team will concentrate on our sole rider, Miguel Oliveira.”

Valentino Rossi is another rider in doubt for this weekend's race.

The Italian missed both previous Aragon rounds after being diagnosed with Covid-19 and, despite feeling fully fit again, continues to test positive.

Rossi needs two consecutive negative test results, 48 hours apart, to be allowed to return.