Ben Spies Sepang Crash Update
At last weekend’s wet Malaysian Grand Prix, Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ben Spies crashed, tearing a ligament in his right shoulder.
The Texan returned home for surgery earlier this week, and on Thursday, Yamaha reports the 2009 World SBK Champion underwent successful surgery. During the process, surgeons repaired the torn ligament damage.
Yamaha reports: “The procedure consisted of the reconstruction of the Coracoclavicular Ligaments torn in the crash and a reduction of a separated Acrimioclavicular joint, aided by a Twin Tightrope device, which is a suture based system. Cadavar tissue was placed to replace and reinforce the Coracoclavicular Ligaments that were torn.”
Spies will fully recovery, but must wear a sling for up to 10-12 weeks. This means Spies will miss not only this weekend’s Phillip Island Grand Prix, as reported earlier this week, but also the season finale at Valencia Nov. 11. Unfortunately, that’s the final time Spies will be observed on the factory Yamaha.
Due to time constraints, Yamaha Factory Racing won’t field a substitute rider this weekend in Australia, but the team is expected to announce a replacement rider for Valencia.
During the Sepang crash, Spies was in 10th position. Spies suffered a heavy crash with 12 laps remaining. He was sent to the on-track medical center for pain in his shoulder, and initial reports found nothing serious. But further tests conducted Monday at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia reveal Spies needed surgery on his shoulder.
But that wasn’t all; Spies, who will ride for Pramac Ducati in 2013, also cracked a rib in his upper chest and bruised a lung during the Sepang MotoGP crash.
To read a preview of this weekend’s Phillip Island MotoGP, click here.
