Jorge Lorenzo’s run for the championship title was dealt a cruel blow this afternoon when the Yamaha rider was pitched off of his M1 during a wet second free practice at the Dutch circuit at Assen, suffering a left collarbone fracture and a slight concussion.
Lorenzo had arrived at Assen brimming with confidence after two consecutive victories, and his words during the pre-event press conference admitting he was feeling very strong and at the top of his form, now sounds – if one is superstitious – omninous, as if he was tempting fate.
The reigning world champion was on his 9th lap of the session when he entered turn 13 – the Hoge Heide – and touched the painted lines and got caught out by standing water, crashing at 238 km/h.
A suffering Lorenzo was transported the Clinica Mobile where he was immediately diagnosed with a fracture to his left collarbone and sent the Assen hospital for further tests and then will return to Barcelona where he will undergo surgery under the capable hands of Dr.
Xavier Mir either Saturday night or Sunday morning.
Dr.
Mir said, “Jorge has a high inertia trauma but results are normal from initial neurological examination.
We will move to Assen to make head and chest scans and also an abdominal exploration.
Our first diagnosis revealed that there is a left clavicle fracture with a slight shift that will need surgery to repair the bone.
This injury is in the background while we rule out any other major injury that may become apparent within 24 hours.
These kind of impacts at more than 200 km/h need some time for the body to recover to be able to discard any other major injuries.
In principle tomorrow he can travel and within 48 hours he will be operable.
”At the present Lorenzo’s recovery period is uknown, but Dr.
Costa who is at Imola to follow World Superbikes believes it could take a month before the Spaniard is at full fitness, but with two back-to-back races, at Sachsenring (July 14th) and Laguna Seca (July 21st) and both with mainly left hand corners, Lorenzo who many are expecting to return for the German round will have to call on all his mental strength to make up for the physical weakness that he will be suffering.
Just reminder, a heroic Colin Edwards broke his collarbone and damaged his muscles around his ribs during the 2011 Catalunya GP on a Friday.
Dr.
Mir operated the American rider inserting a plate and some screws, and just nine day Edwards took a third place podium at a wet Silverstone.
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