Yamaha Superbike: Melandri has Surgery

2011 World Superbike

Although Marco Melandri Tweeted on Tuesday that nothing was serious regarding his report of intense shoulder pain, the new Yamaha Factory World Superbike rider underwent successful surgery on Thursday.

The 28-year-old rookie WSBK rider, who takes over for the departed Cal Crutchlow (Crutchlow takes Ben Spies’ seat on the satellite Yamaha MotoGP team as Spies replaces Valentino Rossi on the factory Yamaha team), expects to be fully fit for the first World Superbike tests of 2011 at Portimao in Portugal on Jan. 26.

Melandri, a former MotoGP 250 world champion, has elected for a hospital visit and an overnight stay after some complaints around the joint possibly due to an old injury and in the wake of three days hard riding and Yamaha superbike testing recently.

It was reported that after scans on Wednesday revealed some extra movement in the limb, the Italian Melandri opted for a clean-up procedure in order to reduce risk of further aggravation during his maiden term in World Superbike on the Yamaha that is set to start at Phillip Island on Feb. 27.

Dr Giuseppe Porcellini, the same specialist who worked on the shoulder of Valentino Rossi, performed the operation and Melandri will leave his ward Friday.

Dr Porcellini reported that there was no damage to ligaments therefore a straightforward ‘tidying’ took place and a "staple" attached – that will erode naturally over time – will add extra stability.

Aside from requiring the use of a brace for two weeks the sole effect of Melandri’s trip to the operating theater will be a slight interference with his ability to train 100-percent during the month of January but he expects to be fit and raring to go for his next appointment with the Yamaha R1 in Portugal.

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