During last weekend’s Grand Prix of Trentino in Italy – round four of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship – America’s Ryan Villopoto suffered a hectic crash.
Following the MXGP wreck, the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team Leader underwent a medical examination. Doctors said he sustained “coccyx failure,” meaning the 26-year-old California broke his tailbone.
Due to this, Villopoto – who joined the FIM Motocross grid this season following four-straight AMA Supercross titles – may be sidelined for this weekend’s MXGP of Europe at Valkenswaard in Holland. Villopoto and the team will know more following further testing set for the end of the week.
“The doctors told him that there is no risk of further injury if he rides his bike, but of course it will be painful. We don’t want to put any pressure; Ryan will do a test and then we’ll take a decision for this weekend,” explained KRT team manager François Lemariey.
Villopoto took his first MXGP during race one of round two in Thailand, following that with a third-place finish in race two. He then finished fourth in both Argentina races, and took another fourth in race one in Trentino before crashing out in race two.
Villopoto’s not the only Kawasaki Racing Team KX450F-SR factory rider injured; his teammate Tyla Rattray also was injured in Trentino, though he’s set to go for this weekend’s Dutch MXGP.
“Tyla also had examinations and he is OK; he crashed pretty hard on his head but he has no pain. He does have a painful shoulder, and he had some laser treatment this week to speed up the healing process. He will ride his bike tomorrow (Thursday) to prepare the GP,” Lemariey says.
