With Karel Abraham deciding to skip this weekend’s German GP at Sachsenring due to his lingering hand injuries, that he sustained during the Catalunya post-race tests, which forced him skip the Silverstone GP and at the last minute deciding not to race at Assen after struggling in all the practice and qualifying sessions, his Cardion AB team has decided to replace him with veteran Ducati test rider Franco ‘Iron Frank’ Battaini.
For the 39-year-old Battaini, who will be turning 40 on July 22nd, it will be a great birthday gift has he hasn’t raced professionally since 2005 and he retired in 2007 after a brief experience in World Superbikes.
He became Ducati’s official test rider in 2009 when Vittoriano Guareschi was promoted to team manager and Niccolò Canepa (who used to be a Ducati test rider) before got his chance to spend a disappointing rookie season in MotoGP.
Before Italy’s Grand Prix at Mugello, which takes place from July 13 to 15 July, Abraham will have to undergo a further check-up, after which, on the basis of the doctors’ recommendations, will be decided he will race in Italy.
“Assen showed us there was no point in racing at all costs, because with this handicap I can’t perform at my maximum, and, at the same time, by straining my injured hand I’m just extending the recovery time needed to heal the break,” said Abraham.
“Unfortunately, for a motorcycle rider this type of injury is really unlucky: it’s one of the areas of the hand that is subject to tremendous strain, and if it’s not completely healed, it puts a limit on what I can do.
“We simply have to hope that a two-week break is enough to regain fitness, and that I’ll be able to return to the track at Mugello .
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