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The LCR Honda MotoGP team have confirmed that Honda test rider Stefan Bradl will stand in for the injured Cal Crutchlow in Sepang in seven days time.
The Brit broke his right ankle after a nasty free practice crash in Phillip Island and will be out of next weekends race in Malaysia. Crutchlow will try and ride in Valencia, so with LCR needed to find a replacement rider for one week, they have chosen the German.
It will be Bradl’s fourth race of the season, with the German crashing out of two of them and failing to finish in the points in the third in front of his home crowd at the Sachsenring.
“First of all I want to say it’s a great pity for Cal because he was in good form after the podium in Japan and the last few races,” said Bradl who finished fourth at the Sepang International Circuit in 2014 with LCR.
“I hope he has a speedy recovery. It’s a good opportunity for me, it’s a nice comeback (to the LCR Team) as we had three years together and there are a lot of people I know in the team.
“I also want to thank HRC and Lucio for reacting so quickly and professionally to this situation. Now let’s see what we can do, I’m looking forward to seeing the guys and working with them again.”
LCR Team Principal Lucio Cecchinello said that they’re happy to have Bradl standing in for Cal, as well as offering an update on Crutchlow.
“Cal arrived at Alfred Hospital by helicopter very quickly after the crash and his initial treatment in the medical centre at the race track,” said Cecchinello.
“We are very grateful for this because, despite his serious injury, it was not compulsory, but everyone was very keen for him to be taken to hospital by helicopter.
“Once he arrived, he had a full body scan which confirmed that the only part of his body injured in the crash was his right ankle. The fracture he sustained to it involved both the ankle malleolus and distal tibia. Dr. Lazarus and the surgery team led by Dr. Edwards – who successfully operated on the right ankle of Dani Pedrosa many years ago – carried out a first procedure which was a fracture reduction and alignment and external fixation with the use of a cage.
“This first surgery took 45 minutes and was simply to put the bone back into the perfect position for a second operation. That will take place on Wednesday or Thursday once the swelling to the ankle has gone down and will most likely involve inserting three small plates to keep the bone in place and guarantee the best possible recovery.
“The plan is that he will then be discharged three days after the second operation, which is next weekend. We will be in Malaysia at that time, so Cal will fly home instead and try to recover as quickly as possible. He will be able to start physiotherapy two weeks after the surgery to try and get himself fit as quickly as he can.
“We move to Malaysia for the penultimate round of the season with another LCR former racer. Stefan Bradl raced in LCR colours for three years in the premier class [2012, 2013 and 2014] and we know all about his remarkable skills and undeniable talent. We are happy to be back in the garage together.”
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