The upcoming WSBK round at Donington Park and the following one at Assen will be one rider short, because BMW Italia’s rider James Toseland broke his right wrist during private testing at the Motorland Aragon circuit The English rider crashed on the second day of testing, picking up a small fracture according to X-rays taken in Spain, but the damage was much worse than expected, and Toseland had to undergo emergency surgery in Manchester and have wires inserted and it will be at least six weeks before they can be removed.
“My main priority was being fit enough to race at Donington,” said Toseland “so I was really pleased when I was told in Spain that I would be ok.
But when I got back to the hotel, the pain in my right wrist was unbelievable and, considering that I had a race coming up in a week’s time, I sent the scan on to a specialist I know in Manchester.
“From looking at the scan, he thought I’d be alright, but as he’s a friend, he left a wedding anniversary party to come and check the wrist properly.
They took a new X-ray from a different position in Manchester and found that I had badly displaced bones in my wrist.
At that point, things were getting critical as there was no blood flow in the wrist, meaning that the bone could die if I wasn’t operated on immediately.
“I had expected him to confirm that everything was alright and give me the all-clear, so it came as a bit of a shock, to be honest.
I guess I’ve been lucky, but it’s a massive disappointment from a racing point of view.
I’m so sorry to everybody who has continued to support me.
”Toseland is expected to return for the Monza round in May.