Injuries sideline Lorenzo
The 21-year-old has undergone a skin graft on the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand. Renowned hand specialist Dr Xavier Mir carried out the operation in the Dexeus Institute, using skin from Lorenzo's right wrist.
A final CAT scan also confirmed that the MotoGP rookie has fully recovered from concussion, although he still cannot entirely recall the moments immediately before the accident in the second free practice session of the Grand Prix of Catalunya last Friday.
Dr Mir has recommended a further night under observation before a full week of complete rest.
06/06/08 Following examination at the Institut Dexeus, Jorge Lorenzo has been ruled out of any further participation in the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya. The Spaniard, who took an awkward fall in the second MotoGP free practice session on Friday afternoon, will be kept under observation for at least 48 hours as a result of a concussion picked up in the incident. Such a timescale obviously prevents the Fiat Yamaha rookie from riding on either Saturday or Sunday.
Doctor Xavier Mir of the University Institut Dexeus in Barcelona commented as follows:
`I can confirm that Lorenzo will not be able to compete this weekend after the tests done here at the Institut Dexeus have confirmed the following injuries:
`1. He suffered head trauma and lost consciousness. We made a neurological examination with a CAT scan and an MRI scan and from this we can confirm that there is no cranial haemotoma or hemorrhage. However, he now needs to stay under observation for between 48 and 72 hours to see how this develops.
2. He sustained an injury to the 4th and 5th finger on the right hand, where he has lost some skin. He also has an abrasion of the extensor tendon. We need to see how this develops but it could be possible that he needs a small skin graft. 3. Various other bruises and grazes.´
Daniele Romagnoli, Team Manager
`Unfortunately today Jorge suffered another crash and it's clear that the luck is not with him at the moment. This morning we had a good session and things were going very well, we'd found a good base set up from which to work and we were quite happy with our progress. Then this afternoon started well but sadly after four laps we had another crash when Jorge lost the front at turn 11. He was going 130 km so it was quite a fast crash, but we checked the data and we can't see that he made any particular mistake. We were trying some different tires and bike setting from the morning and we were feeling quite happy about how things were going so it's a great pity. Luckily he's avoided any further injury to his ankles, but the head injury means that he must undergo a period of rest and not take any further risks. We are very disappointed for Jorge, but the important thing now is that he has some rest and takes time to recover properly.´
Masahiko Nakajima, Team Director
`We are very sorry about this matter and about the fact that Jorge is having to miss his home Grand Prix. My feeling is that, after the rain, the track condition today was not normal; it was worse than everyone could have expected. We hope that Jorge recovers quickly and that he will be able to come back in good shape, rested and relaxed, for the next race.´