Bradl withdraws from remainder of WSBK season
Honda rider Stefan Bradl will not take any further part in this year's World Superbike season after undergoing surgery on his right wrist, it has been announced.
Stefan Bradl, Honda World Superbike Team
Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
The German has endured a tough season at the Ten Kate Honda squad since switching from MotoGP at the end of last season, lying 14th in the points with three rounds remaining.
Bradl was forced to sit out the second race of the most recent round at Portimao after injuring his right wrist in a heavy crash in the first race, and subsequently withdrew from this weekend's Magny-Cours races.
He underwent surgery on Thursday on his torn scaphulonate ligament, and with a seven-week recovery period he will now miss the remaining WSBK rounds of the season at Jerez and Qatar.
"Obviously it’s quite a difficult time for me, as it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that I won’t be able to race for the rest of the season," said Bradl.
"I have to stay positive, though, and try to do everything needed to make sure that my hand and wrist are fully healed. Rest is now priority number one for the healing process."
American rider Jake Gagne is standing in for Bradl alongside Davide Giugliano this weekend at Magny-Cours, but it remains unclear how Honda's line-up will look for the remaining races with Bradl out of action.
Ex-Ducati rider Giugliano had been set to make way for HRC tester Takumi Takahashi at Jerez, but Bradl's absence opens up the possibility of Giugliano completing the season for the team.
Takahashi will be unable to race in the Qatar season finale as he has a clashing All-Japan Superbike race at Suzuka on the same weekend.
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