Injured MotoGP rider Tito Rabat to miss Phillip Island test
Marc VDS Honda rider Tito Rabat will miss this week's Phillip Island MotoGP test due to the injuries he sustained at Sepang
Rabat crashed on the second day of the opening pre-season test, severely lacerating his left knee and fracturing bones in his right foot and hand.
He underwent surgery in Barcelona on February 1, and has now been ruled out of the Phillip Island running, primarily to help the recovery of the knee.
"Tito has worked hard to be fit for the Phillip Island test, after sustaining quite debilitating injuries in Malaysia," team boss Michael Bartholemy said.
"While the fractures have healed nicely and wouldn't have stopped him from riding in Australia, the knee injury is a different story altogether.
"Despite intensive physiotherapy he still doesn't have the necessary extension in the joint and he risks popping the stitches - with the associated danger of infection - if he participates in the Phillip Island test.
"This is why we made the decision together with Tito to give him more time to recover ahead of the Qatar test, rather than risking everything for little gain by having him ride injured in Australia.
"This is the right decision for him and for the team."
Rabat will not be replaced at Phillip Island, with Jack Miller the team's sole representative.
Share Or Save This Story
Suzuki didn't see its tough start to 2017 MotoGP season coming
Miller sick of Honda MotoGP bike's continued acceleration deficit
The winners and losers of MotoGP's reshuffle
Injured MotoGP rider Jorge Martin to be replaced by Rabat at Jerez
Rabat's heart "completely broken" after losing Avintia MotoGP ride
Crutchlow's Q2 Catalan MotoGP hopes "wrecked" by Rabat
Nicky Hayden: Remembering motorsport's much-loved "one-off" five years on
Morbidelli/Rossi relationship won’t change as MotoGP team-mates
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
How F1's ADUO system works
Live: MotoGP Catalan GP - follow the action as it happens
“It’s just bad luck” - Juncadella reacts to Verstappen team retirement at Nurburgring 24 Hours
How Colton Herta is chasing his F1 dream
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments