Alex Rins has been given the green light by Spanish doctors to travel to Japan – After almost four months off, he will try his MotoGP comeback at Motegi
Alex Rins is set to attempt his comeback at Motegi next weekend after a long injury lay-off. The Spaniard has been given the green light by doctors in Barcelona. He has already set off from Europe in the direction of Japan.
Rins broke his right tibia and fibula in a crash during the sprint at Mugello. Originally, a comeback at the beginning of September in Barcelona was envisaged. But the rehabilitation was delayed and took longer than expected.
First, the ankle injury caused problems. But the nerves were also affected. Finally, the healing of the tibia bone also took time. During his first trackdays with a motorbike, he was in pain.
Rins attended the races in Spielberg, Barcelona and Misano. He wore a splint on his right leg and walked around the paddock on crutches. Now the overall situation has improved. In his Instagram story he posted a photo with the words “someone is happy”.
In Motegi, Rins will face a check-up by the MotoGP doctors on Thursday. He was also nominated at short notice for the press conference. If he is declared fit, he would ride his LCR Honda again on Friday for the first time in three months and 20 days.
Originally, Stefan Bradl was also scheduled to replace Rins at Motegi after the MotoGP debut in India. Bradl also travelled to Japan. If Rins does not receive clearance from the doctors or realises after training that the comeback is still too early, Bradl could ride again.
Should the comeback work out as Rins hoped, he would ride the remaining seven race weekends. In the spring, he took the only win of the season for Honda in Austin. Next year, Rins will switch to the Yamaha factory team.
In Japan, the rider field will not be complete. Alex Marquez (Gresini-Ducati) broke three ribs in a crash in India and is targeting a comeback in Indonesia. Luca Marini broke his left collarbone in the sprint start accident and is also missing.
As Motegi is immediately the week after India, they will not need to be replaced. Enea Bastianini will again be represented in the Ducati factory team by test rider Michele Pirro. There is also a wildcard in Japan. Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow rides his first Grand Prix this year.
