Laverty to miss three World Superbike rounds with injury

Eugene Laverty has been ruled out of action for two months and will miss the next three World Superbike rounds due to his injuries sustained in a nasty crash in Thailand during the second race.

The Milwaukee Aprilia rider tipped off at turn six four laps into Sunday’s World Superbike race at the Chang International Circuit before being hit accidently by Jordi Torres on the MV Agusta.

After being taken to Bangkok hospital Laverty was diagnosed with two pelvis fractures which do not require surgery but the Irish rider did undergo a “small operation” last Sunday night to repair an internal injury.

Laverty has been set a two month recovery timeframe and plans to fly back to Belfast in around one week to begin his rehabilitation. Laverty remains optimistic about his recovery and is already focusing on his return at the British round at Donington Park on May 25-27.

“I’m obviously very disappointed that I will be forced to miss some races so early in the season but I count myself lucky that my injuries are not worse,” Laverty said. “The initial fear of lying on the ground and not being able to move my legs was something that I’ve never felt before.

“I’m very fortunate to have a fantastic group of people around me from my wife Pippa, my brother John who reacted fantastically during the key hours after the crash, and the entire Milwaukee Aprilia team who joined me in the hospital to make sure that I was in good hands.

“Due to my internal injuries I will be restricted in the first month of my recovery but following that we will push hard to ensure that my pelvis heals and I’m aiming to get back on the bike at my home round at Donington Park.”

Milwaukee Aprilia is yet to confirm whether it will field a replacement rider for the next three rounds of the World Superbike championship at Aragon (April 13-15), Assen (April 20-22) and Imola (May 11-13).