Tomorrow’s MotoGP race at Phillip Island will only have fifteen riders on the starting grid, with both Dani Pedrosa and Loris Capirossi having decided to withdraw from the Australian GP.
The Honda Repsol rider underwent surgery to fix his fractured collarbone just two weeks ago and tried to ride to keep his second place in the standings, but strong pain, arm weakness and terrible weather conditions and qualifying only 15th, has convinced the Spanish rider that racing in these conditions for a couple of points is too risky and not worthwhile.
“After the operation in Spain my target was to come back in Australia, but having ridden in the three practice sessions here it’s clear that it is really impossible for me to maintain a high pace because I lose strength in my arm lap-by-lap and controlling the bike gets increasingly difficult – even more so with the strong winds here.
Phillip Island is a very fast circuit, I have to grip the handlebars very tightly, and this makes me very tired and gives me a lot of pain.
To ride around three seconds off the pace in the race tomorrow and maybe collect just a few points wouldn’t make much sense,” explained Pedrosa.
“I think it has been worth it to at least try to ride here because we really didn’t know how I would be on the bike until we tried.
Now, though, I don’t want to take more risks so that I can recover in time for Estoril.
I discussed the situation with HRC team director Kazuhiko Yamano and we have the same opinion.
” Loris Capirossi who is expected to announce his switch to Pramac Ducati in 2011, and still recovering from surgery on his right little finger that kept him out of the Aragon GP and nursing a battered right heel and ankle picked up during free practice at Sepang, crashed again during today’s qualifying session leaving the unlucky Capirossi with a pulled abductor muscle on his left leg.
With three different injuries hampering the Italian, the circuit doctor has declared him unfit to race.
Both Capirossi and Pedrosa are expected to return to the grid for the Estoril GP October 31st.