MotoGP: Baz undergoes successful arm pump surgery

Published: 06 July 2017 Updated: 06 July 2017

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French MotoGP racer Loris Baz has made the most of the championship’s month-long summer break to undergo successful arm pump surgery to relieve a recurrent issue he’s struggled with in 2017 on the Avintia Ducati.

First suffering with the issue at the opening race of the season in Qatar, it was initially attributed to a tendon issue by doctors, repeated flare ups of the problem – and lost results as a consequence – means once the diagnosis was made, he made the decision to go under the knife.

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“I had surgery on arm pump, something very common among MotoGP riders. To be honest I never had problems with my arms, but this year the bike is very physical, perhaps the most physical bike I’ve ever rode in my life. The problems began in Qatar, this was the first time I noticed it and prevented me from fighting with Lorenzo until the end of the race due to the pain.

“In Argentina it was a little less, but in Jerez, Le Mans hurt, and in Mugello the pain was very strong. At the begining we thought it might be tendonitis, but in the end we found it to be compartment syndrome. After talking to several doctors like Dr. Mir or Dr. Charte, everyone agreed that surgery was needed. I tried to find a specialist and Randy De Puniet recommended me to Dr. Dufour. Now I will be quiet week and then I will start to train with the bike and in the gym to get back to action in Brno at 100%.”

Arm pump, or compartment syndrome, is a common complaint among riders both on and off road, and is caused by increased pressure in the muscles of the arms causing a reduced blood flow.

The repair job involves opening the arm under general anaesthetic and slicing the sheath that contains the arm muscles to allow them to decompress.

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By Simon Patterson

MotoGP and road racing reporter, photographer, videographer