World Superbike
Jonathan Rea won’t know if he’ll be competing in the final round of the 2010 World Superbike Championship at Magny-Cours in France this weekend, the Northern Irishman reporting he will wait until Friday morning practice to see if he’s fit to ride.
The Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider is still recovering from small fractures to his left collarbone and his left scaphoid in his wrist sustained during a qualifying wreck at Imola WSBK last weekend.
Rea attempted to rejoin the World SBK racing at Imola on his spare CBR1000RR Fireblade, but was unable to control the machine, and thus withdrew from the race.
Jonathan Rea says: “It is too early to say if I can ride at Magny-Cours, but I will wait until just before the race to make a final decision. It is more important for the team that I start testing for next year free of injury and with no niggling physical problems, so we will see how things are.”
“I flew back to the UK on Monday to get a detailed diagnosis on the injuries. To be accurate, I’ve ripped the scapholunate ligament between the scaphoid and lunar bones and that has broken a bit of bone off the scaphoid. There’s also been a dislocation of the AC joint in my shoulder, but it’s the wrist that’s the problem. We’re going to see how things go and make a decision on Friday about riding at Magny-Cours with a carbon cast for support and special Alpinestars glove.”
“It feels like the season ended at Imola last weekend and there’s just no way I want it to end like that. Third place in the championship is still up for grabs so I’d really like to ride at the weekend for that, for the team and for all my sponsors and supporters. However, it’s also important that I’m in good shape to start testing for next season as soon as possible so I’ve already got the operation booked for the Tuesday after Magny-Cours.”
If he starts, Rea can possibly retain his third-place position in the championship. But the man who doubled at Imola last weekend, Althea Racing Ducati rider Carlos Checa, only trails Rea by 14 points heading into Magny-Cours.
Ten Kate Honda says Rea is aiming for the title with Honda and Ten Kate again in 2011, and “a decision will be made at Magny-Cours whether Rea should race or sit this one out to be fully ready for the off season testing program.”
