Monster Energy Yamaha MX2-GP riders Zach Osborne and Arnaud Tonus have both undergone successful surgery in the USA and Switzerland respectively and are now starting periods of rehab and recovery with a view towards a return to action in the FIM Motocross World Championship in a months time.
Osborne had an operation on Monday to prepare a cracked collarbone from a blameless training accident two weeks ago. “It was a little bit messier in there than they originally thought but the damage was repaired and all is good,” said the American. “Over the next few weeks I will be trying to keep my fitness up as much as possible. I will do whatever I can to speed the recovery up.”
A conservative estimate of the convalescence – if all goes to plan – for the former British Champion will have him making his 2012 FIM World Championship bow for the Grand Prix of Mexico and round four of sixteen on May 13th.
Tonus had a broken left scaphoid fixed today (Wednesday). The injury required the insertion of a screw but – like Osborne – if the reigning British Champion’s schedule over the coming months follows a positive line then he could be looking at a similar time frame for getting back in the saddle of the YZ250F.
Current leader of the MX2 Maxxis British Championship, Mel Pocock, is a confirmed rider replacement in the Steve Dixon-led Monster Energy squad for the Grand Prix of the Netherlands this Sunday/Monday for the opening round of the FIM campaign. Pocock has former experience at this level riding the YZ250F and completed a full season in 2010. The twenty year old was committed to full British and European EMX250 series for 2012 but has now stepped into the breach for Yamaha.
