BMW GoldBet SBK’s Melandri Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

2013 World Superbike Injury Update

Over World Superbike’s winter break, BMW GoldBet SBK’s Marco Melandri was battling with intense pain in his right shoulder.

The 30-year-old Italian received medical attention over the winter, but once back on the S1000RR for preseason World Superbike testing, the pain didn’t cease.

He again battled through the pain at the World SBK season opener in Phillip Island last weekend. And to make matters worse, he was involved in a race-one wreck with Alstare Ducati’s Carlos Checa (1199 Panigale R). During the crash, Melandri further upset his shoulder.

Melandri moved on, though, and returned to the podium in race two, finishing third behind Aprilia Racing’s Sylvain Guintoli (RSV4) and his teammate and race winner, Eugene Laverty.

Due to the race-one crash and riding to the extreme in race two, Melandri’s shoulder pain intensified to the point where he decided to receive further medical attention.

After returning home from Phillip Island World Superbike, Melandri underwent a small operation on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

BMW GoldBet reports that in an arthroscopic procedure, Dr. Giuseppe Porcellini cleaned adhesions and arthritis to the acromion (the outer end of the scapula to which the collarbone is attached) at he ‘Centro di chirurgia ortopedica della spalla’ in Cattolica (ITA), a surgical medical centre specializing in shoulder injuries.

The operation was a success, and Melandri was home on Thursday. He will begin rehabilitation next week. And with six weeks to go before round 2 of 15 in 2013 World Superbike at Motorland Aragon, Melandri and his team are confident he will be fully recovered to race.

Marco Melandri (BMW GoldBet S1000RR Superbike) says: “I am very happy. The examinations showed that there is no injury to the shoulder but that the pain only had a small cause. Dr. Porcellini and his team did a very good job. With the surgery they have solved the problems which have been causing me pain.

“Now I am confident I will get well very soon. At the beginning of next week I will start with passive training on the shoulder and by the middle of March I will start to train in the pool. I will back in Aragon and even if I am not really 100% fit by then, for sure I will not have any pain in my shoulder.”