Jorge Lorenzo’s withdrawal from the Japanese GP – after just two exploratory laps – was triggered by pain, and the risk of making the fracture worse, the former triple premier-class champion told press after an unsuccessful foray on Friday morning.
“It’s a sad moment, because I really wanted to race here, at one of my favourite circuits,” he said.
The track also suited the Ducati, he continued, and he had hoped for a strong race after disappointment at the preceding two rounds. But after worsening pain as he stepped up his training regime, doubts crept in; then an MRI scan at a Mito hospital confirmed that what had originally been thought only a hairline fracture was a more serious break in the radius bone of his left arm.
“Yesterday my feelings weren’t very positive and unfortunately today I had confirmation not only of the pain, but also that there was a serious risk of making the fracture worse.”
“On hard braking I couldn’t push with my left wrist,” he said. The stop-and-go circuit rivals Austria’s Red Bull Ring as the track with the most punishing braking of the season, with high-mass 340mm front discs compulsory for all teams.
Lorenzo cited “a lot of pain” in left-handers and direction changes.
“I was not comfortable and I was not safe. There was no meaning to continue,” he said.
His next move was further medical examination before deciding how to proceed. Had the fracture been diagnosed at the time, there would have been time for a surgical repair. Now, however, his condition made participation in next weekend’s Australian GP unlikely, and also threw doubt on the Malaysian race a week later.
By Michael Scott
Photos GnG
Lorenzo, Japanese MotoGP 2018