US MotoGP: Hofmann targets Brno MotoGP return

Alex Hofmann has targeted a return to action in the Czech Republic MotoGP race in Brno next month after undergoing surgery on a badly broken left hand in San Francisco yesterday (Friday).

The German’s left hand was seriously injured when Tech 3 Yamaha rider Sylvain Guintoli slammed into him at the top of the famous Corkscrew corner.

He underwent a three-hour operation in the Surgery Centre South in San Francisco before returning to Monterey this morning.

Initial estimates suggest he will be sidelined for five weeks, which would mean he would be fit enough to ride in the Brno race on August 19.

But there are already paddock rumours that the D’Antin Ducati rider could be out of action for a prolonged period, with movement in his hand severely restricted.
Dr Art Ting, who is renowned for treating injured bike racers, including five-times world 500 champion Mick Doohan, carried out the operation.

Hofmann said: “This kind of break is really painful and at the moment I haven’t recovered all feeling in my hand and I don’t know exactly how much time I will need to recover completely. My physiotherapist says that I need at least five weeks to come back one hundred per cent. I am trying to be confident, but in this condition it is very difficult. Furthermore, there is the possibility that I could have some problems with infection. I had to stay too long at the side of the track because the ambulance could not arrive to pick me up.”

Dr Ting confirmed the severity of Hofmann’s injury and said: “Alex has a very bad fracture and to be able to put the screws in his hand, I had to enlarge the wound because the break wasn’t compound. He will have strong pain for a long time, but in my opinion, he will start to ride again in Brno.”

Earlier this month, Hofmann had a metal plate and seven screws inserted in his right hand after a friend trapped it in a car door.