Ducati confident Ben Spies can return in Laguna or Indianapolis

Ducati is hoping injured Texan Ben Spies can be fit enough to return to MotoGP action on home soil in Laguna Seca or Indianapolis.

The 2009 World Superbike champion believes the California clash on July 21 might be too soon to return from a serious right shoulder injury he sustained in a rain-hit Sepang race last October.

Spies is undertaking an intensive rehab regime in America and the 28-year-old is hoping he can ride his Ignite Ducati Desmosedici in Indianapolis in mid-August.

He has only raced twice since joining Ducati in 2013 and had to withdraw after the first day of practice in Mugello recently because of a chronic lack of strength with the shoulder.

Ducati boss Paolo Ciabatti told MCN: “The first concern is to see Ben 100% fit.  We know that Ben is an extremely talented rider and it was a pain to see him riding not even being 50%. We had our doctor visit him after Mugello and he said the surgery was good but the shoulder is moving too much. It can easily get out of the socket. 

“Unless Ben recovers fully the muscles around it to keep it in the socket it is pointless to ride. The movement on the bike means the shoulder can pop out. The best thing is for Ben to do the rehab and we will see how he feels. I think Laguna is possible but unlikely and Indy is more the real option.”