The reigning World Superbike Champion didn’t get off to a great start Monday during day one of testing at Jerez in Spain.
Sylvain Guinotli crashed his Pata Honda CBR1000RR SP at turn one, and the Frenchman immediately felt pain in his back and right ankle.
With the 2015 SBK season set to begin in three weeks at Phillip Island in Australia, Guintoli played it smart and headed back to the UK for further medical testing. After an MRI of his back and neck, and additional X-rays of his right ankle, it was confirmed Guintoli sustained no broken bones.
Though good news, there’s still much to achieve before the start of the season. The 32-year-old has begun rehabilitation with the use of a hyperbaric chamber for physiotherapy. And if things go as planned, Guintoli should be able to begin the season without issue.
“The back is still quite painful,” said Guintoli, “but I can put some pressure on the ankle and I’m happy that there are no breaks. The treatment has started and although it will take a while to settle down, I’m confident about being fit and ready to start the season at Phillip Island next month.”
“In the end, it was frustrating to miss the test at Jerez, especially because the weather conditions were so good. But we have another two-day test in Australia before the first round and I’ve already had a chance to see the work that has been done to the CBR over the winter, so I’m excited and looking forward to the first race.”
