Moto2: Binder to miss Austin after surgery on loose plate

Reigning Moto3 world champion Brad Binder will miss this weekend’s American Grand Prix in Texas after undergoing surgery to reattach a plate on his left forearm bone that came loose during last weekend’s Argentine Grand Prix.

The South African took his best result to date on the Red Bull Ajo KTM machine in tenth at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, but came away from the weekend in considerable pain after the plate, attached to a bone he badly broke during winter testing, came loose.

He underwent surgery at Barcelona’s Universitario Dexeus, with Doctor Xavier Mir saying that the difficult operation had been a big success.

“Today we operated on Brad Binder, who had suffered a loosening of the plate on his left forearm. The operation consisted of three phases: The first, removing the old plate, which had lost the pronator axis. Secondly, we placed a new plate with the correct axis of the radius, so that it could do twisting movements.

“Finally, a graft removed from his arm to wrap around the old fracture and ensure that the bone heals as soon as possible. He will remain in hospital for between 24 and 48 hours and we believe that he will be able to begin recovery exercises in three weeks.”

Binder will sit out this weekend’s round at Texas’ Circuit of the Americas and potentially the fourth round of the championship at Jerez as well, with KTM Moto2 development rider Ricky Cardus stepping in to replace him.