Gino talks about thumb injury before home World Supersport race at Donington Park this weekend The young Londoner speaks about the thumb injury he suffered at Phillip Island during Fridays practice session. Rea was in a position to finish top 6 in the Phillip Island World Supersport race but the bikes clutch gave up causing to a retirement from the race. Gino hopes to be back at the sharp end at his home race if the thumb is bearable on the bike. Read More “On Monday after the Phillip Island race my hand and mainly thumb were pretty swollen, we drove up to Melbourne to see a hand surgeon and they gave us good and bad news.” “The tendon that controls the movement of the bone in my thumb had torn off and had to be reattached to gain movement. If they were to operate to reattach the tendon I would need a pin inside to keep the thumb permanently hyperextended. This would take up to 8 weeks to heal and I would not be able to bend it at all. I’d have to miss Donington because if I crash again with my thumb fully extended, it could rip my thumb off. Not nice!” “So, the only other option was to put my thumb in a splint which also keeps it in hyperextension but without operating and putting a pin in. This also takes up to 8 weeks to heal but the advantage with this is that I can still try to ride at Donington. I will just have ride with a slightly smaller splint than I have now, I just I cannot afford to bend the thumb at all, even when on the bike. Disadvantage being as soon as I bend the thumb, it will break the scar tissue which will be attaching the tendon to bone and I’ll be back to where I was at Phillip Island, starting recovery all over again. Realistically there’s a high chance of bending it or it swelling up on the bike, even with the splint in.” “But the plan at the moment is to go to Donington, ride and see how it goes! Thats my good news. I don’t need to grip the bars anyway do I! See you all there.” The next World Supersport Race will take place this weekend at Donington Park, UK on 27th March. Gino and Step Racing team mate Ivanov will be on stage for an interview on the Thursday 24th at 15:15 at the Official SBK Paddock Stand. Paddock entrance is free to public on Thursday.