The MotoGP series is racing at the Sachsenring this weekend, and defending Champ Jorge Lorenzo has had a large highside crash in practice, damaging a plate holding together the collarbone he recently broke. He will not race this weekend, and looks doubtful for the Laguna Seca round next weekend. Here is the announcement from his Yamaha team.
Lorenzo Retires Following Sachsenring Free Practice Crash
Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo will not continue to participate in this weekend’s Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland following a high speed crash this afternoon in the second of the day’s free practice sessions. Reigning World Champion Lorenzo had been the fastest rider of the morning session, despite still recovering from surgery just two weeks ago on a collarbone injury sustained in practice for the Assen TT.
The afternoon session had started well with the Mallorcan flying straight into the top of the time sheets with a 1’22.047 second lap. The success was to be short-lived however as less than ten minutes in Lorenzo suffered a huge high-side crash, falling heavily onto the injured shoulder. He was taken immediately to the medical centre for x-rays where it was revealed he had damaged the plate inserted in surgery just two weeks ago. As a result the decision has been made to withdraw from this weekend’s Grand Prix. Lorenzo will fly home to Barcelona this evening and will undergo surgery tomorrow to repair any damage.
I used to root against this man, until I watched the sequel to Faster, Fastest. You’ll have a whole new respect for what he does on a motorcycle after watching it, despite his rivalry with Rossi. Hope he gets better soon. I’m still mad at Pedrosa for taking out Hayden during his championship year.
The Hoff will not stand for this.
That said, um who picked this beefcake shot? Does he shave his chest or what?
shaving is an American practice. the Euros wax…!!!
Guys, he had surgery 2 weeks ago to plate the collar bone so they probably shaved an area for the operation?
Cheers John
Oh fine, bring everything crashing down with some kind of rational explanation (disclaimer, I wouldn’t actually care what the guy does as far as um grooming habits, I just thought the choice of pics was funny).
he’s hairless. like a Chinese crested.
And he’s probably had another trim/wax this weekend…
Cheers John
I love how people are quick to condemn. If he hadn’t re-injured himself, he likely would’ve recovered fine.
And, you are where in the MotoGP standings, again?
TimC says:
July 13, 2013 at 10:01 pm
I love how people are quick to condemn. If he hadn’t re-injured himself, he likely would’ve recovered fine.
Well duh! Really is that what you meant to say? Thats like saying if he hadn’t been killed, he likely would be alive today.
Putting any injured top tier athlete back in the game too soon is always a huge risk especially in a sport where they reach speeds approaching 200 mph with very little body protection. Had I been Yamaha’s race manager, I would have probably said No to letting Lorenzo race at Assen and probably for the next 5 or 6 weeks as well. Bones need time to heal as do cut muscles and flesh. Now they’ve paid a tremendous price.
Honda and Pedrosa did the smart thing by sitting Germany out.
As mentioned, hindsight is easy. These guys are pro athletes and just like in other pro sports it’s amazing (stupid?) what some of them will do and put themselves through to continue. Lorenzo may very well deal with these injuries for the rest of his life but to do less would not do. I hope for his recovery.
i hear a S10,000 strap of 100’s soaked in water, then put in the freezer makes for a mean ice pack in one’s later years. just what i heard.
Just one of those racing things. I think he made the right decision to come back last weekend and salvage points. An unfortunate accident yesterday put him out for this weekend, but don’t count him out for LS. Regardless of the CB surgery before last weekend this latest accident may very well have happened anyway.
Tough guys, tough series. Thats racing.
Came back too soon, I thought, when he raced shortly after the initial injury. The smart investment would have been to wait out another race. In re-injuring himself he just prolongs recovery.
20/20 hindsight is especially revealing when one is young.
He dodged a bullet at the last race but not his time. That’s what happens when you want to win another Championship. You push your luck and get bit again doing it. If Pedrosa is really hurt this makes the chance of Marquez winning the Championship that much easier, assuming he doesn’t make the same mistake Lorenzo has.
Tom, Lorenzo’s recent injury has nothing to do with waiting. 2 weeks ago he broke his collarbone and he raced, safely to the end. Yesterday he highsided (again). Whether or not he raced at Assen would not have made the slightest difference for Germany.
welcome to fanta… err… SACHSANAPOLIS…!!! (ricardo montalban voice)
Godspeed Jorge
Hmmmmmmm The difference between courage and stupidity. Thought it was bad to race 2 weeks ago. Too young to worry about the last chance for another championship.
On the one hand I tend to agree with you. OTOH, we’ve all seen guys put on pro football pads with extremely short time off after surgery, to the point of absurdity. So maybe there’s a lot we don’t know about medicine at this level with world class athletes, nutrition programs, transfusions, etc, etc.
Get well soon Jorge! I always root for ABH (anyone but Honda) the Big Red Goliath of motorcycling. (I might, repeat might, root for Honda with the appropriate Yank on board.)
the high side from hell has happened.
Dani cometh?
He just got popped, too, although there is no report of broken bones.
Yet.
Looks like it’s Crash City out there this weekend.
Hope Jorge comes back in good health soon.
except that Dani is out too after a monster highside and airlift to hospital…
Dani is a maybe for Sunday. His highside today cracked his left collar bone and he said he felt faint ( concussion maybe? )
Here comes Marquez who got pole in Jorge and Danis abscence. Lets see if Val ot Crutchlow can give him a race.
re: “Dani cometh?”
Dani goeth.
BANG ZOOM TO THE MOON ALICE…!
Easy Norm, these bastards are not from this world. I hurt myself just swinging a leg over a bike.
At least Dani is keeping the championship interesting… I wondered if he dropped the bike in the race, that would be one thing, but in qualifying? Wow. Hope Vale and Cal keep up with Marquez. How about a podium for Espargaro???
re: “How about a podium for Espargaro???”
we’ve already been down this road of CRT hopes at sachsenring. the protos own them on the short circuits just as much as they do on the long ones. a factory team going backwards is a false yardstick.
I know, 99% sarcastic, but I’m impressed with what he can do with that bike. I’m only happier to see those bikes disappear next year.
Where are the CRT bikes going? Looks like they’re staying. Also looks like they are not slow compared to the various pack fill that’s existed throughout MotoGP’s history:
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/race/motogp-race/crt-bikes-some-perspective/