Leonov attempts to recover for Aragon

After becoming the first-ever Russian rider to get onto the podium in a world championship race, at Assen, Vladimir Leonov then had a bad accident at Donington Park in UK during the fifth round of the 2012 FIM Supersport World Championship. In the crash the talented Russian rider suffered a small tibia fracture. After returning to Moscow the Yakhnich Motorsport racer underwent complicated surgery and has recently started a rehabilitation program. WorldSBK.com recently spoke to Leonov to see how his recovery was progressing.

"The Donington events were very disappointing and a bit painful for us," declared Leonov. "I ran well during free practice, looking for the best set-up and for the best pace, and... then suddenly I had this crash - absolutely unexpected and unaccountable. In Moscow they inserted a pair of screws into me during the surgery, and after that I had to take regular massages - to get rid of swelling and bruising. Starting from the second week the recovery program had begun: they used Magnetic therapy and added the decompression chamber procedures. The first x-ray examination showed that I still couldn't ride a bike, so I went on doing my exercises, additionally starting fitness training to keep myself in shape.

"My great desire is to be back in the championship at Aragon, but the decision could be done only after the additional x-ray examination. As for now, I have missed one of our training stages in the Italian Championship, that was held on June 22-24 at Mugello. I have been to Aragon only once, training with the team, but this track had impressed me greatly and I'd like to race there very much".