Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) underwent successful surgery at the University Hospital Dexeus in Barcelona on Thursday, with both the ulna and radius displacement and dislocation fractures in his left forearm fixed following a crash in FP3 in Texas.
The 21-year-old Catalan rider was treated by Dr. Austin Hill, orthopedic traumatologist at the University Medical Center Brackenridge, on the same Saturday of the fall to stabilize the fractures and returned to Barcelona on Monday. However, it was not until today when he was able to undergo surgery due, to the inflammation that was still more than visible in his left arm.
Rins then underwent a second operation on Thursday performed by Dr. Xavier Mir, Head of the Hand Unit and Coordinator of the MotoGP Traumatology Service, through which the broken bones in the forearm and the wrist were fixed in place by two titanium plates. As a result of the crash, the rider also suffered damage to the ulnar nerve as revealed by Evoked Potentials (neurologic test). This issue will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks with an electromyography test.
The Spaniard will undergo his first treatments next week at the same hospital in Barcelona, while the active rehabilitation will start after a period of 10 days. Doctors will try to accelerate the recovery process as much as possible, but the timeline for the Rins' return to the track is not yet clear - doctors estimate between six to eight weeks.
For Jerez, the Hamamatsu factory's test rider Takuya Tsuda will take Rins' place both in the race and in the Official Test scheduled for Monday, May 8th. It will be his first GP in the premier class of motorcycling.
Tsuda has previously competed in the All Japan Championship and has participated numerous times in the Suzuka 8 Hours race, as well as testing alongside Andrea Iannone in the winter test that Suzuki had at the Jerez circuit last December.
Dr. Xavier Mir - Head of the Hand Unit and Coordinator of the MotoGP™ Traumatology Service: “Alex Rins has been operated on for displaced and dislocated left ulna and radius fracture, performing an open reduction and internal fixation with two locked titanium plates. Furthermore, yesterday he underwent a neurological test (evoked potentials) that confirmed an ulnar nerve injury by contusion. Within ten days he will begin the functional recovery of the wrist and forearm. An electromyography will also be performed to evaluate the recovery time of the ulnar nerve”.
Davide Brivio – Team Manager: “We are very happy that Alex surgery went well. This is the most important thing. Starting now he is facing a recovery period, but we are awaiting his comeback to 100% and we will be eager to have him back on our GSX-RR so he can display all the talent he has inside. Meanwhile, unfortunately, we have to replace him. And for Jerez we decided to give his bike to Takuya Tsuda, our test rider who will have his first opportunity to get real race experience. We will try to use the occasion to further the development of the bike. I would like to wish a fast and good recovery to Alex. We will be waiting for him and until then, we will try to prepare him the best bike possible for when he returns.”
Alex Rins: “The surgery went very well according to what Dr. Mir told me. I would like to thank him personally for all his care and attention since the fall in Austin last Saturday, him and all his team for care they have given me these days in hospital. The messages I have received through social media have really encouraged me, especially the kindness that has been shown by every member of Team Suzuki. This fills me with the energy and desire to immediately begin my recovery and return to competition as soon as possible.”