News

With the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returning to racing action at the TT Circuit Assen for the Pirelli Dutch Round, the status of riders previously injured is becoming clear following their medical checks. One of these riders is Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) who suffered leg and ankle injuries in a crash with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) in Indonesia, and he has undergone his medical check in the Netherlands.

Baz was diagnosed with a fracture of the right proximal fibula, an avulsion fracture to his right medial malleolus as well as a ligament injury and Baz underwent surgery on his injuries between rounds. After a visit to his surgeon, he was given the all-clear to travel to Assen where he underwent medical checks at the circuit. Following these checks, Baz has been declared fit for Free Practice 1 in the Netherlands and will be reassessed after Friday’s first practice session.

After the check, Baz said: “Just out of the medical check-up and I’ve been declared fit, so the first target is done. It was the main target that I had over the past six weeks so super happy. It was a big, hard job to get there so I’m looking forward to riding at this amazing track. I don’t have any special target, just to have fun and hopefully the weather is good.”

Speaking later in the day, Baz added: “It’s a bit of a mix of both injuries, the knee and the ankle. I don’t have the full flexion in both and changing direction from right to left I think will be painful. The long right turns, for sure, will be painful because it’s where we are the most bent on the ankle and knee. I expect to be the tough part. I’m not fully fit, I have pain when I’m on the bike and I spent four of the last six weeks laid down on my sofa with my legs up. It’s not the same as training seven days a week. I’m far from being 100% but I am confident I can still go fast if I don’t have too much pain.”

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) has been declared fit following the fractures to his fingers he suffered in Indonesia and will race on home soil. In WorldSSP, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) will return to action after his collarbone injury from Australia while Nicholas Spinelli (VFT Racing WEBIKE Yamaha) is also fit after he had arm pump surgery between rounds. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki), who was recovering between rounds after suffering rib and spinal fractures in a crash during the Australian Round, has also been declared fit for the Dutch Round.

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