Barbera and Pons make joint hospital visit

Pons Racing WRB riders Hector Barbera and Axel Pons undertook preseason preparations together last Thursday, although it was neither an on-track trial of their Aprilia machinery nor a team bonding training session. The Spanish pair were both at Barcelona´s Dexeus clinic for separate operations, carried out with success.

Barbera had a steel plate –put in place as a result of a 2006 mountain bike crash- removed by Dr. Xavier Mir, and will have his stitches taken out in a fortnight´s time. The quarter-litre star is recovering from a back injury suffered at Motegi earlier this year, with another scan to assess the recuperation made set for Wednesday.

Pons was also having removal surgery, at the hands of Dr. Ignacio Ginebreda. The son of team owner Sito Pons had implants inserted to both his tibias taken out, with a return to training expected in the next week.

Both riders plan to resume their preseason program at 100% after the end of the winter testing ban, which begins today.