Lorenzo to miss MotoGP finale at Valencia
The Spanish rider was forced to miss the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix after injuring a finger of his left hand in a crash at Phillip Island.
Yamaha said Lorenzo continues to make good progress in his recovery following plastic surgery to repair the damage, but confirmed the Spaniard will be absent from the final race of the year.
Test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga, who replaced Lorenzo in Malaysia, will stand in for the 2010 world champion again.
Injured Jorge Lorenzo to miss Valencia MotoGP
Crash ends Lorenzo's championship charge
Yamaha have confirmed former MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo will miss the final race of the season in Valencia on Sunday.
Lorenzo hoped to race in Spain following plastic surgery to repair the ring finger on his left hand, which he injured in Australia three weeks ago.
But the Spaniard needs more time to recover and his place will be taken by test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga.
Lorenzo will also miss testing Yamaha's new 1000cc 2012 race bike next week.
Yamaha have yet to confirm which two riders will take part in testing as Lorenzo's team-mate Ben Spies has also been out of action with injury.
Jorge Lorenzo unfit for Valencia race
Jorge Lorenzo unfit for Valencia race
Jorge Lorenzo will miss this weekend’s final race of the 2011 MotoGP world championship in Valencia having failed to recover from the serious left hand injury he sustained in Australia last month.
The 2010 MotoGP world champion lost 8mm off the top of his left ring finger when he fell heavily during the pre-race warm-up session in Phillip Island on October 16.
The Spaniard underwent successful surgery on the damaged digit but was forced to miss the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.
He waited until today (Wednesday) to make a last-minute decision on whether he could ride in front of his home crowd at Valencia but a Yamaha statement said: "The Mallorcan’s injuries require further recovery time to allow him to ride at a competitive level."
Lorenzo’s factory YZR-M1 will once again be raced by Japanese test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga.
Yamaha gave a slight hint that Lorenzo might attempt to test the new YZR-M1 1000cc machine next Tuesday.
By opting not to race he will have five more days to recover before the traditional two-day post race test gets underway at the Ricardo Tormo circuit.
And his factory Yamaha team boss Wilco Zeelenberg told MCN recently that he hoped Lorenzo could at least do some laps at the test prior to the winter break.
The Dutchman told MCN: "I hope that he can ride at the test. My first guess is that he could ride for three laps on the first day and understand if he can carry on. Even if the lap time isn’t that good I think it is worth going out because for me he should ride before the winter break."
Yamaha said a decision on who would ride the new 1000cc YZR-M1 would be taken next Monday.
Still-Recovering Lorenzo Will Miss MotoGP Season Finale At Valencia
Yamaha Prepare for Season Finale at Valencia with Mixed Emotions
It is with mixed emotions that Yamaha Factory Racing arrives in Valencia this weekend for the final Grand Prix of the 2011 season. MotoGP’s tragic loss of rising star Marco Simoncelli in Sepang two weeks ago has left all with heavy hearts but determined to put on a good show in honour of their fallen competitor. The race is the last in Yamaha’s 50th anniversary of Grand Prix racing so the team will wear the red and white YZR-M1 WGP50th Anniversary Edition livery for the last time. 2010 World Champion Jorge Lorenzo continues to recover from surgery to his hand following his injury sustained in Australia. As a result he will not participate in this weekend’s Grand Prix and will be replaced by Japanese Yamaha test rider and All Japan Superbike competitor Katsuyuki Nakasuga.
Yamaha Factory rider Ben Spies arrives for the last race of season committed to racing although still recovering from injuries sustained in Phillip Island. The Texan was also recovering from injury for the 2010 season finale at Valencia. Despite the pain he impressed, qualifying sixth and finishing just off the podium in fourth.
Ben Spies
“I can’t believe I won’t be battling Marco on the track this weekend, it’s an incredibly sad way to finish the season. I’m going to honour him in the best way I know how, on the track. As with last year I arrive in Valencia recovering from injuries, but will of course give 100% of my efforts into performing to the best of my ability.”
Katsuyuki Nakasuga
“It was a great honour to be chosen to ride for Jorge at Sepang and here at Valencia. Due to the tragic loss of Marco Simoncelli in Malaysia the race was cancelled. This weekend the track will be new for me but I will try as hard as I can to deliver good results.”
Wilco Zeelenberg
“This is the last round of the season, looking to the condition of the Championship and riders, and more significantly the tragedy in Sepang it’s good that we can now wrap it up. The feeling of the crew, like all those in the paddock has been affected deeply by what happened, we intend to honour Marco through our actions this weekend. Jorge continues to recover well from his surgery but unfortunately not quickly enough to ride to his potential this weekend. We look forward to having him with us on Saturday and Sunday to provide support for our replacement rider. The team are ready to give Nakasuga-san all the help he needs to get to grips with the Valencia circuit as quickly as possible.”
Massimo Meregalli
“This is going to be a difficult and challenging weekend for many reasons. Everyone is affected by the sad passing of Marco Simoncelli. This last race of the season would usually be marked by a party to celebrate our year but this is not now in keeping with the mood and feeling of the team. As such we will wrap up with our yearly technical presentation and a quiet team dinner. We have Nakasuga-san with us having to learn the Valencia circuit for the first time, and Ben still not 100% after his crash in Australia. Despite this we will give our maximum effort to mark the final race of our 50th anniversary year and to honour the memory of Marco Simoncelli.”
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