The 2023 FIM Supersport World Championship looked very promising for Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) in the early stages, with strong pace shown in the Official Test and during the Australian Round. However, a crash in the opening stages of Race 1 meant Huertas missed Race 2 as well as the Indonesian Round with Huertas using the break between the Indonesian and Dutch Rounds to focus on his recovery.

In Australia, Huertas recorded eighth in the Tissot Superpole session and was fighting for the podium places in Race 1 which was held in mixed conditions. However, his race would come to an end on Lap 4, when he crashed and was hit by Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) with Montella unable to avoid him. After the crash, Huertas thanked Montella for helping him despite the Italian having a collarbone injury from the crash.

The first diagnosis was that it was not necessary to undergo surgery, but that he would be out of action for approximately three months. This meant he would definitely miss the Indonesian Round while the Dutch and Catalunya Rounds were in doubt. Six weeks after the accident, Huertas provided an update on his recover and his plans to return to the track as he looks to build on a superb rookie campaign in 2021.

“It has been a very hard month and a half,” explained Huertas. “Because, when you suffer a fall like this, you have a lot of pain and you suffer a lot, but I want to return as soon as possible. Watching the Indonesian Round from home was hard. We have done everything to be able to recover, everything is progressing quite well, and we are meeting the deadlines, and even advancing them.”

On a mental level, this type of injury can be complicated for riders given they may not be able to ride a motorbike, let alone train, for a relatively long period. Huertas clarified that “you recover mentally when you get back on a motorcycle”. He also added that he has already returned to riding on the track and that he will undergo a new review shortly. He said: “This week, I was able to get back on a motorcycle, so now I really want to go back. I still don’t know exactly when I’ll be able to do it, it depends on a check-up with the doctor on Monday, 17^th April. I wish I could get to Assen; it would be complicated because it doesn’t fit within the established deadlines, but we’re going to try.”

Despite the initial diagnosis suggesting he would be out of action for three months, the Madrid-born rider explains that he has been able to shorten the deadlines and is hopeful of being able to return for the Dutch Round. Huertas said: “I have my checkup on Monday. Next week, we will know if I can run at both Assen and Montmelo. For Montmelo, there are many possibilities, but Assen is pending. Both are outside the deadlines they told us, but I was in a rehabilitation centre in Jaen, suffering a lot. The truth is that I have done very well, the deadlines have been getting shorter, so there is still a little hope of being able to come back at the next race.

“I was in Montmelo last weekend, Saturday and Sunday, and it went well. In the beginning, it was very difficult for me because it is a complicated area. On the bike, we are always in a racing position and the lower back suffers but, little by little, it loosened up and I adapted to the conditions. The truth is that it was positive. But a training session is not a race and now I depend on these days before Assen to see with the doctors if something can be done to get there. We will know more next week, but the goal is to get there.”

Beyond his immediate goal of returning to WorldSSP action at the TT Circuit Assen or the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the Kawasaki rider was clear about his goals for the 2023 campaign. Huertas wants to become a race winner sooner rather than later and, having seen Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) win on the same bike this season, will be hoping he meets that goal. He said: “In Australia, we started very well, but when you come back from injury you never know how others have been working and how strong they are going to be compared t you. When you’re forced into bed for almost a month, you don’t work the same as the others, but I trust my team, my talent and the bike that Kawasaki have given me this year. I believe I can achieve it. The goal is to start winning race as soon as possible and, why not, in Argentina, fight for the title or the top three.”

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