Following injuries sustained during the Grand Prix of Malaysia, Yamaha Factory Racing rider Ben Spies has been ruled out of the Air Asia Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island this weekend.
In wet conditions at the Sepang circuit, Spies fell of his bike and will subsequently undergo surgery to receive treatment in the USA for an AC shoulder separation, a cracked a rib in the upper chest area and bruising to the lung.
The Yamaha Factory Racing will not field a replacement rider at Phillip Island due to time constraints.
Spies, who will be replaced by Valentino Rossi next year, is disappointed about missing the Australian event.
“I’m lost for words. We’ve had such a tough season with an unbelievable amount of bad luck,” Spies said.
“We have always gone out there to give it 100 percent and it was the intention of both myself and my team to continue to do so at Phillip Island. I took a really hard knock on Sunday and it’s now clear from today’s tests that I have some injuries that require immediate attention.
“It’s disappointing to be heading back to the USA now instead of to Phillip Island but it’s obviously important to get the right treatment as soon as possible.
“I’m sorry for my team and thankful for all the hard work they and Yamaha have put in so far; our current situation is not where we should be.”
Ironically Spies and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo did not take the start in Australia last after both being injured in practice.
The Air Asia Australian MotoGP kicks off this Friday.
