From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:
KENNY ROBERTS HOPES TO BE FIT FOR ASSEN
Montmelo, Catalunya
Friday, June 13, 2003:
Team Suzuki rider and former World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr. is to fly home to the USA tomorrow for treatment to chest injuries that ruled him out of Sunday’s Catalunyan GP, in the hope of regaining race fitness for the next round, the Dutch TT at Assen on June 28.
Roberts suffered the injuries early in the Italian GP at Mugello last Sunday, and although no fractures were diagnosed, continuing pain in the sternum (chest bone) has left him unable to ride the Suzuki GSV-R 990cc racing prototype, and wondering whether the injury may be worse than first diagnosed.
“I spoke to Jean-Michel (Bayle) who cracked his sternum, and that didn’t show up on X-rays until ten days or two weeks later. It feels like it’s got to be something like that, because the pain is just in the same place and the same all the time. My strength seems to be getting better, but the pain feels the same every day. I feel like I crashed yesterday.”
Roberts is having trouble sleeping, and would have gone to his doctors in the USA earlier but for the discomfort of the aircraft ride. The injury was caused when he landed on his right shoulder, driving the collarbone into the sternum. More usually, the collarbone would have broken.
“Dean Miller has helped me with the pain during the week, but I have to be strong to ride that bike. I can’t be 50 percent or 80 percent. I need all my strength,” said Roberts.
His explanation for the accident began with an acknowledgement: “I picked the wrong time, and I messed up. I’ve trying to avoid this situation all year, but this time I had a bit more aggression …”
He and team-mate Hopkins had been overtaken by Colin Edwards. “I had speed over John, so I wanted to get by him and try to stay with Colin. I had a run on him out of the previous corner, but it wasn’t like a normal accident where I lost grip. As I shifted from third to second the bike immediately went sideways like I had the back brake on. From that point on I was just trying to recover and go off the track, or miss John.
“John was wider than I was into the corner so I couldn’t pick it up and go straight because I would have hit him harder. I tried to lean it over and avoid him as best I could … but obviously I didn’t.”
Thrown over the high-side, he landed on his shoulder and then his hip. “When I stopped tumbling it was like somebody was standing on my chest and pulling my right shoulder as hard as they could.”
The first indication of problems was when he was unable to take off his right glove or his crash-helmet. “I could get it about three quarters off, but from there on I had no range of motion – no power to get it off. I was down on my knees, so I had to use my elbows on my knees to get it off.”
Roberts thanked Costa for his care and treatment, adding: “I’ve never had a crash when something wasn’t broken but I didn’t have any strength, and complete pain.
“It’s always the rider’s fault in this situation, but the problem was I had no control. From when I shifted back to second gear was just trying to hang on. Just along for the ride,” he said.
“As John said it’s difficult when things like this happen, especially within the team. I believe Suzuki understands John and I are trying our hardest to do well. I can only hope that when I’m physically ready to ride the bike again improvements will have been to make it more predictable and controllable.”
HOPKINS ON THIRD ROW OF PROVISIONAL GRID
Circuit de Catalunya, Spain– Friday, June 13, 2003:
Team Suzuki rider John Hopkins overcame pain and stiffness to set 11th-fastest time in today’s first timed qualifying session for Sunday’s GP of Catalunya, claiming a place on the third row of the provisional grid.
With team-mate Kenny Roberts Junior sidelined by injuries sustained when the pair collided and crashed out at last weekend’s Italian GP, Hopkins is the sole Suzuki rider entered for Sunday’s race.
But the 20-year-old Anglo-Californian has plenty of support. As well as Roberts observing from the trackside, and French Suzuki endurance rider Jean Michel Bayle, 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz has also flown in from the United States, to add his observations and help with the quest to get the maximum possible out of the radical new 990cc prototype GSV-R racer.
Hopkins was also knocked about in the Mugello crash. He went to the paddock Clinica Mobile directly after practice, hoping that racing medico Dr Costa could find a way to ease the pain and awkwardness in his neck and shoulder, to make it easier for him to wrestle the 200-plus horsepower machine round the circuit’s demanding 4.727km loops and turns.
Back in the pits, top-level factory engineers were again on hand, to speed the fast-forward development programme of the new V4 racer. Factory rider Akioshi-San was also at the track, preparing for two days of testing directly after the race. Bayle and Hopkins will also ride the bike on Monday and Tuesday.
Roberts, World Champion in 2000, was leaving the track this afternoon to fly back to the USA, where he will obtain specialised treatment for the chest injuries that are keeping him from being able to ride. He hopes to be fit in time for the next round, the Dutch TT at Assen in two weeks.
Today’s practice took place in bright sunshine and 30-degree heat, promising a second successive race in baking summer conditions. There is one more day of qualifying, before the race on Sunday.
JOHN HOPKINS – 11th Position, 1:45.416:
I’m pretty sore … my neck and back, and I can feel it when I’m riding. Desiree’s been helping me with massages, but I’m going to the Clinica Mobile now to check that there isn’t something out of line, and get it put back straight. I pulled out a fair lap at the end, but I’d like to pull them out in the middle of the session, and keep doing them consistently. This track suits our bike better than the last two, Mugello and Le Mans, and we’re looking for a good set-up to give us the best possible grip, which we’re struggling with a bit at the moment. I like the track – it’s fun, and I’m just out there trying to have fun and enjoy it again.
KEVIN SCHWANTZ – 1993 World Champion:
It’s very disappointing to see Suzuki having problems, and I wish there was something I could do to help. They seem to have a pretty good idea of what the problems are. Solving them is the big issue. I think both Kenny and John have done a great job up to this point. Watching the bike, I’m not really sure what I see, but it looks like it doesn’t want to finish the turn. Either the riders have to spin the rear, or go slow in the middle of the corner. The first is good for a few fast laps, the second is hardly good for anything. I’ll be talking to the riders and the engineers, and I hope I can make a positive contribution.
GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
John is doing really well – focussing through the pain and doing a good job. Kenny is out there watching, which gives him a different perspective … and likewise Kevin Schwantz and Jean Michel Bayle. We’re all doing our best to improve the situation.
FRIDAY OFFICIAL QUALIFYING TIMES CATALUNYA , SPAIN
1. Valentino Rossi (Honda) 1’42.927,
2. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) + 0.406,
3. Sete Giberenau (Honda) + 0.439,
4. Shinya Nakano (Yamaha ) + 0.838,
5. Makoto Tamada (Honda) + 0.995,
6. Max Biaggi (Honda) + 1.138,
7. Colin Edwards (Aprilia) + 1.179,
8. Alex Barros (Yamaha) + 1.212,
9. Torhu Ukawa (Honda) + 1.356,
10. Oliver Jacque (Yamaha) + 1.442,
11. John Hopkins (Suzuki Grand Prix Team) + 1.589,
Not competing because of injury – Kenny Roberts (Suzuki Grand Prix Team)
Roberts On What Happened At Mugello
Roberts On What Happened At Mugello
© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
![Roberts On What Happened At Mugello](/wp-content/themes/racing-map/images/No_image_available.png)