Drivers and teams – Collarbone surgery, Pedrosa will miss the first 2019 MotoGP tests … – KTM occasions

Clavicle operated, Pedrosa will miss the first MotoGP 2019 tests…

Riders and teams - Collarbone surgery, Pedrosa will miss the first 2019 MotoGP tests ... - KTM occasions

The new collaboration between Dani Pedrosa and KTM starts badly: the former pilot of the HRC will undergo yet another operation of the right clavicle following a double fracture known as "of stress". He will therefore miss the first tests of 2019 in early February in Malaysia … Explanations.

The countless number of injuries accumulated by Dani Pedrosa during his motorcycle Grand Prix career seems to have weakened his body: the little Catalan suffers from a new fracture of the right clavicle, triggered during a simple training…

  • MNC of October 26, 2018 :
  • MNC special file :

"I made myself this double fracture just by forcing", he explains, describing this so-called "stress" injury, ie caused by an accumulation of tensions. “In fact, I have had several injuries there before. The last time the bone was split into three pieces and the middle part does not have enough blood supply, which creates osteoporosis ( decrease in bone density, Editor’s note) ".

The three-time world champion – once in 125 and twice in 250 but never in MotoGP, despite his indisputable talent – must once again step onto the pool table to reduce this fracture. This operation will mainly aim at repairing damaged tissues, thanks to a transplant of its "own stem cells so that the consolidation is more efficient".

"We needed an effective solution so that the bone regenerates correctly: after having carried out several tests and medical consultations, this is what appeared most obvious", explains the new development rider of KTM in MotoGP, who took contact with his new bike during a (Spain).

"The challenge does not end, however"

This surgery described as "meticulous" resulted in a long period of convalescence, which will largely spill over into the current winter break of the Moto Grand Prix. The n ° 26 will have to keep the rest for several weeks and will therefore not be able to resume the handlebars at the beginning of February when scheduled in Sepang (Malaysia).

Drivers and teams - Collarbone surgery, Pedrosa will miss the first 2019 MotoGP tests ... - KTM occasions

"Unfortunately, the whole clinical process takes time and will prevent Pedrosa from continuing the test program initially planned for the start of the year as a test driver for the KTM team", announces already the entourage of the 33-year-old retiree.

  • MNC Live : Dani Pedrosa will test the KTM on December 18-19 in Jerez
  • MNC special file :

"I really regret these circumstances and would like to thank KTM for their full support," adds Dani Pedrosa. "We are very excited about this program and I want to be in top form to take part in it. The challenge doesn’t end!"

Drivers and teams - Collarbone surgery, Pedrosa will miss the first 2019 MotoGP tests ... - KTM occasions

Of course, the challenge does not "stop", but it risks falling behind: KTM expected Pedrosa to participate actively in the essential improvement of its RC16 thanks to the valuable experience gained during his thirteen seasons on the Honda. Official RRS…

Especially since this setback does not come at the best time: the modest lap times achieved by Johann Zarco and his teammates during the first tests show that there is still a lot of work to do. Transforming the motorcycle takes time and requires following precise directions, but this work must begin as soon as possible…

No race for Pedrosa in 2019

Note that Pit Beirer, the boss of the KTM project in MotoGP, has once again confirmed that Dani Pedrosa wanted to stick exclusively to his role of tester: no question of participating in any race in 2019 thanks to wild cards, as the other test pilot regularly does .

  • MNC Live :

"No one needs to convince a rider to race," Beirer explained to our colleagues at Speedweek. "Dani has ended his career, he has his motivations and maybe doesn’t want to take any more risks. He knows exactly what it takes to stay ahead: for him that means taking a little risk.".

"But he is no longer willing to take it and that is why he decided to stop," added Pit Beirer. "He doesn’t want to run to be behind and we fully understand this position." Not to mention the risk that Dani will be seriously injured again, compared to his frustrating nature "as a man of glass" which has regularly barred him from the MotoGP title….

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