Injury Knocks Spies Out Of Phillip Island

Cycle News Staff | October 22, 2012

Ben Spies will miss the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island this coming weekend, the Texan set to undergo surgery for an AC shoulder separation suffered in yesterday’s Grand Prix of Malaysia.

Spies crashed in the horrendous conditions at the Sepang Circuit and initial checks by the trackside medical crew found no serious injuries. Tests on Monday in Kuala Lumpur, however, showed damage that will require surgery. In addition to the shoulder injury, Spies also suffered a cracked rib and bruising to the lung.

The latest development is icing on the cake for what has been a dreadful season for Spies.

“I’m lost for words,” he said in a team release. “We’ve had such a tough season with an unbelievable amount of bad luck. We have always gone out there to give it 100 percent and it was the intention of both myself and my team to continue to do so at Phillip Island.

I took a really hard knock on Sunday and it’s now clear from today’s tests that I have some injuries that require immediate attention.

It’s disappointing to be heading back to the USA now instead of to Phillip Island, but it’s obviously important to get the right treatment as soon as possible.

I’m sorry for my team and thankful for all the hard work they and Yamaha have put in so far; our current situation is not where we should be.”

Spies is returning to Texas on Tuesday. Yamaha says it will not field a replacement rider at Phillip Island due to time constraints.