GARDNER INJURED IN TRAINING INCIDENT

Australian Remy Gardner, who is set to make his MotoGP debut in six weeks, has fractured his right wrist.

Gardner suffered the injury in a ‘small’ motocross training accident on Saturday and required surgery by MotoGP’s own doctor, Dr Mir.

The procedure took place in Barcelona in the early hours of this morning (Australian time), during which Dr Mir placed two screws in to help him recover.

Mir has reported the operation was a success and that Gardner would be able to start his recovery in the coming days.

It is expected that this recovery will commence on Friday ahead of the first of the MotoGP pre-season tests in Malaysia.

Although not ideal preparation heading into his maiden MotoGP season, Gardner is positive he will be fine for the rookie ‘Shakedown’ test at the Sepang International Circuit which takes place from January 31-February 2.

“Small motocross crash,” Gardner said on Facebook. “Operation went well. Shouldn’t slow me down though.”

Gardner and his fellow rookie Tech 3 KTM teammate Raul Fernandez will remain in Malaysia, as they then take part in the first official 2022 MotoGP pre-season test at the same venue less than a week later.

The final pre-season test will occur at the Mandalika International Street Circuit from February 11-13 before the venue hosts its first race a month later as the second round of the 2022 season.

Gardner’s injury comes after he won the Moto2 Championship from his teammate Fernandez in 2022.

Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez continues to recover from his eye injury which saw him miss the final two rounds of the MotoGP season.

In recent days Marquez headed back to the race circuit, riding a Honda RC213V-S at Portimao, one of the closest machines to a MotoGP bike.

“I am feeling very happy, first to be back on a bike at the track and also because we were able to confirm the sensations I had on a motocross bike here with the road bike,” Marquez said.

“It’s a great feeling, a feeling of relief because when I was riding, I didn’t have any discomfort with my vision.

“Since I haven’t ridden in so long, I did notice some physical areas where I’m missing a little bit but this is just because I have not been able to have my usual pre-season.

“There’s a margin to improve but the positive and the fundamental take away from this test was to reconfirm the feeling we had when we first got on the motocross bike and to enjoy the good feeling of speed.

“I have completed an intense day of riding with long runs, I am very happy with the results. We have two weeks until testing begins in Sepang so I will take the opportunity to intensify my physical preparation and train on the bike.”

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