MotoGP: Bradley Smith Recovering From Surgery
Cycle News Staff | June 21, 2013
Monster Tech 3 Yamaha’s Bradley Smith is at home in England today as he begins his recovery from the surgery to his left hand and wrist he underwent on Monday in Barcelona, Spain.
Smith went in for surgery the day after finishing sixth in the MotoGP of Catalunya – his best career finish in his rookie season in the MotoGP class. The 75-minute operation was to insert a small screw in his left scaphoid bone in the wrist he damaged during practice at Mugello earlier this month.
Smith also suffered an open wound on his left little finger in the same accident and doctors performed a skin graft on the finger during Monday’s surgery at the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus of Barcelona.
A small section of skin was removed from his left forearm and the team of doctors report that the surgery was successful.
The double procedure was carried out Dr. Xavier Mir, Head of the Hand Surgery Unit of the Orthopaedics Department, who is world renowned for his treatment of racing injuries.
Dr. Mir is confident that Smith will be able to compete in next weekend’s legendary Dutch TT at Assen with none of the pain and discomfort the 22-year-old raced with in Mugello and Catalunya.
Smith will undergo a further assessment from Mir when he arrives in Holland early week next, but the Brit is now concentrating on building on the huge confidence gained from his maiden top-six finish at Montmelo.
“The double operation was a success and I can’t thank Dr. Mir and his team enough,” Smith said in a team release. “They have done a fantastic job and they told me that the wrist and finger surgery were both a success. Everything went as well as expected and now I am just resting my arm as much possible. The wrist shouldn’t give me any problems now, hopefully, but we need a few more days to see whether the skin graft has taken. Dr. Mir seems happy though and I am sure it is going to be fine.
“I tried to race on without surgery, but it wasn’t possible. I am glad it is done now because I can just concentrate on riding pain free. I’ll have an assessment when I get to Assen but 100 percent I will be riding there and I am really looking forward to it. The last two races have not been easy given my physical condition, but the top six in Catalunya was great for my confidence and hopefully I can build on the momentum gained with another strong ride in Assen.”
