Monster Energy Kawasaki MXGP rider Ryan Villopoto may miss the MXGP of Europe following his crash last weekend in Italy.
The 26-year-old Monster Energy Kawasaki rider and American hope for the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship suffered a fracture to his coccyx [tailbone] in a crash while battling with current series point leader Clement Desalle of Belgium during the second MXGP moto in Arco di Trento, Italy, last Sunday. According to his team, the painful injury may keep Villopoto out of action at this weekend’s MXGP of Europe in Valkenswaard, Holland. Villopoto has been evaluated for the injury, and his participation may be decided prior to raceday, according to KRT team manager, François Lemariey.
“The doctors told him that there is no risk of further injury if he rides his bike, but of course it will be painful,” Lemariey said. “We don’t want to put any pressure; Ryan will do a test and then we’ll take a decision for this weekend.
Villopoto had finished fourth during the first MXGP moto in the GP of Trentino, but his weird second-moto crash, which saw him loop out over a small jump, forced him to drop out of the race and score zero championship points. He finished 11th overall and dropped from fourth to sixth in the MXGP point standings. Villopoto has earned 124 points thus far, and he is 47 points behind leader Desalle. The Belgian has 171 points and is now only one point ahead of GP of Trentino race winner Max Nagl of Germany and reigning World MXGP Champion Antonio Cairoli of Italy. Nagl and Cairoli are tied on 170 points.
Villopto’s Monster Energy Kawasaki teammate, Tyla Rattray, was also injured last weekend in Italy, but the South African rider plans to contest the MXGP of Europe.
“Tyla also had examinations, and he is okay,” Lemariey said. “He crashed pretty hard on his head, but he has no pain. He does have a painful shoulder, and he had some laser treatment this week to speed up the healing process. He will ride his bike tomorrow (Thursday) to prepare the GP.”
Your Privacy Choices