Laverty targets Misano WorldSBK return from injury
Eugene Laverty is working on returning to World Superbike action at next month’s Misano round as he begins his rehabilitation from double wrist surgery.
The Team Go Eleven Ducati rider suffered two fractured wrists in an off during Friday practice at the Imola round, instantly ruling him out of action, to undergo separate surgeries on each wrist in Barcelona.
Eugene Laverty is working on returning to World Superbike action at next month’s Misano round as he begins his rehabilitation from double wrist surgery.
The Team Go Eleven Ducati rider suffered two fractured wrists in an off during Friday practice at the Imola round, instantly ruling him out of action, to undergo separate surgeries on each wrist in Barcelona.
With an esteemed operating team led by Dr. Mir completing two successful surgeries, Laverty’s initial recovery timetable has been set at less than two months and the Northern Irish rider is hoping to be fully fit for the Misano round on June 21-23.
Laverty has started his rehabilitation with Micky Kerr at the Bodycare Injury Clinic, who trains Eugene’s brother John Laverty in physiotherapy, and is thankful for the support he’s been given to target a speedy recovery.
“When I injured my left wrist previously in 2015 I travelled to Barcelona to be operated on by Dr. Mir. He did a great job then and so this time with a badly fractured right wrist I knew that he was quite simply the best man for the job,” Laverty said.
“My wife Pippa and our friend Sarah drove me through the night to Barcelona in time for my surgery on Saturday morning. Thankfully Dr. Mir was able to repair my right wrist without compromising the joint movement which is very important for a motorcycle racer’s throttle hand. In all there were seven fractures across the radius, ulnar stiloid process and scaphoid of the right wrist.
“After the first surgery I was able to relax a little as I wasn’t as worried about the surgery on the left wrist and first metacarpal on Tuesday. I watched the races from Imola in my hospital bed and dreamed about what might have been. I have a fantastic bike in the Ducati V4 R and together with Team Go Eleven I aim to return to Misano and continue our fight towards the podium.
“Thank you to the medical staff at both the Imola circuit and hospital and a special thank you to Dr. Mir and all of the medical staff at Hospital Universitario Dexeus for allowing me to continue my dream.”
Tommy Bridwell, who was the 11th-hour stand-in rider for Laverty in Imola, is lined up to fill in at Team Go Eleven Ducati for the next round in Jerez (June 7-9) before Laverty’s planned return.
