Hiroshi Aoyama facing lengthy injury lay-off

Japanese rookie Hiroshi Aoyama could be out of action for up to three months after a massive crash at last weekend’s British MotoGP clash at Silverstone.

The Interwetten Honda rider suffered a fracture of the T12 vertebra after a vicious high-side at the Vale Chicane during the Sunday morning warm-up session at Silverstone.

The last 250cc two-stroke world champion was due to fly back to Barcelona today (Tuesday) for further assessment having undergone initial treatment at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. 

Aoyama’s injury left just 15 bikes on the grid at Silverstone with reigning world champion Valentino Rossi already sidelined by a broken right leg he suffered during a massive high-side at Mugello earlier this month.

MCN understands that Herve Poncharal’s Tech 3 Racing Moto2 squad was approached about the possibility of Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi moving to the Interwetten squad.

Takahashi would know the tracks and crucially he already has some experience of Honda’s RC212V machine after an ill-fated spell with the Scot Honda outfit in MotoGP last year.

Takahashi though is vital to Tech 3 with second Moto2 rider Raffaele de Rosa having a torrid time in the new 600cc four-stroke class. The Italian has yet to score a point and has become a prolific crasher.

Had Takahashi moved then British rider Kev Coghlan was favourite to move to Tech 3. He finished 22nd as a wild card at last weekend’s Silverstone clash.

The Interwetten Honda MotoGP Team has announced that Kousuke Akiyoshi, Honda’s test rider, will replace Hiroshi Aoyama in the Assen and Barcelona GPs.