Bautista ready for Estoril test
Added on Friday, February 20th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Bautista ready for Estoril test
Alvaro Bautista expects to have fully recovered from a fractured collarbone in time for the latest 250cc test in Estoril in March.
Last year’s 250cc runner-up underwent surgery on the injury three weeks ago, just a day after crashing on the second day of testing in Valencia, so that doctors could insert a supportive plate on the injured bone but the Spaniard is confident that he will be back on track in Portugal.
Bautista told MotoGP.com: “I had to have a complete week of rest after the operation, not to recover from the surgery as such, but to make sure my stitches didn’t reopen. But I was still able to move my arm quite well and the doctor told me to keep it moving so that I didn’t lose mobility. The following week I was allowed back in the gym and this week they’ve taken all my stitches out, so I’m back training at the same rate I was before the crash.”
“More than anything I just want to see how I feel on the bike in Portugal. Hopefully the injury won’t affect me and I’ll be back to 100%,” he added.
“We want to get back the confidence and good feeling from the first test of the year at Jerez. If we can improve on the chassis and suspension side of things it would be perfect, but even just knowing that the collarbone is ok would be great.”
