Richie Escalante will not ride his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R in MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two on Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway.
“I came here to Brainerd with good expectations after two very good weekends at ‘The Ridge’ and Laguna Seca,” Escalante told Roadracingworld.com Sunday morning in the paddock. “I started the weekend very good. I feel good. Plus, my team make some progress on the bike. So, this weekend I feel I will be more close to [Jake] Gagne and for sure battle for the podium, I think.
“But in qualifying, first lap in Turn 12, I make a big mistake. I lose the rear. I tried to control the bike and then I had a big aggressive crash.”
The 27-year-old Mexican rider went for a long, painful tumble, hitting the asphalt hard with his head and being hit by his Suzuki Superbike.
“The weight of the bike push my leg, so right now I am very sore on my leg,” said Escalante, who missed Superbike Race One while he was being evaluated at a local hospital Saturday afternoon. “Nothing is broken, so I’m lucky about that. But I also have a concussion. I’m not focus very well right now for sure. It’s a very strange feeling.
“I’m a little bit sad because I feel very good on the bike, but I have three weeks until the race in Pittsburgh, so I hope I will be OK. The good thing is I know why I crashed. We looked at the data and I just use too much pressure on the brake lever. So, my confidence is not hurt from this crash. That is good.”
The former MotoAmerica Supersport Champion said this is the first concussion he has ever suffered in his lengthy racing career.
In other rider injury news, James Rispoli reported via Instagram that he did not suffer any broken bones in his crash during REV’IT! Twins Cup Q2 on Saturday. The two-time AMA Pro Supersport Champion did, however, suffer injuries to fingers on his right hand and will not ride in Twins Cup or King Of The Baggers on Sunday.
