Rizla Suzuki confirm return of Alvaro Bautista at Estoril GP – MotoGP Update
Rizla Suzuki has confirmed the return of their sole rider Alvaro Bautista at the bwin Grande Premio de Portugal on May 1.
He is announced to be fit for the race after just 42 days of his accident at the Losail circuit during a practice run before the season opener round of Qatar. He fractured his left femur during the incident.
Bautista had to undergo intense physiotherapy sessions to adequately rehabilitate for the upcoming race at Portugal. Before he gets aboard the bike, he will have to go through a medical check-up.
If Suzuki’s prime rider Bautista does not meet the level of racing fitness, the test rider Nobuatsu Aoki will be on reserve to take the place instead. Bautista is mainly focused to get on track for the coming Grand Prix.
Alvaro Bautista stated, “I have been working very hard to be back in time for Estoril and I believe I will be able to take part in the race. I know it will be difficult, but I think the sooner I can get on the bike the more it will aid my total recovery
and help my way to full fitness.”
He has travelled thousands of kilometres to have a session in the hyperbaric chamber in Madrid, which has helped his speed in healing by increasing the amount of oxygen in his system.
According to the Suzuki rider, he claims that he is done with the ‘rehab’ process and now has started the physical training, which includes a lot of swimming, cycling and other exercises to gain strength in his leg to help the rider for the challenge ahead.
Bautista said, “It is going to be really tough, but I am totally focused on being on the GSV-R in Portugal, it's all I can think about at the moment and that is my first goal. After that we'll see what happens and take everything one step at a time.”
The Spanish rider is the only factory team rider in the 2011 season, after missing the first round, John Hopkins the ex-Suzuki GP rider was able to run for the Rizla GP team in the Spanish Grand Prix and placed 10th in wet conditions. However,
he is not available for the Portuguese round due to a BSB event deal on the same race weekend.
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