Capirossi Highsides Out of Assen MotoGP

A heavy crash in Free Practice Two has ruled Loris Capirossi out of a return to MotoGP racing this weekend at Assen. The team have decided not to enter substitute Ben Spies in the event at this point. (watch the video below)

Loris’ arm was trapped under the bike during the crash, causing a severe puncture wound to his forearm. Fortunately the accident did no further damage to the broken hand Loris sustained at Catalunya 17 days ago.

Rizla Suzuki Team Manager Paul Denning said in a press release,

"I think it is necessary to make it clear that the crash was nothing to do with his recent hand injury and it was just one of those things that happens in racing. He was lucky that he didn´t break anything or cause more damage to the original injury, because it is a really fast place to crash. Unfortunately the bike got on top of him and ripped a sizeable piece of flesh from his right forearm"

The Suzuki manager gave no reason for not replacing Loris with Ben Spies, who rode to 14th in his debut MotoGP appearance last week in Great Britain. This decision leaves Australian Chris Vermeulen with the task of improving the bike for race day and scoring solid points for the Suzuki team on his own.

The team expects Capirossi to return for the Sachensring in two weeks time.