Finger injury brings Jerez test to an end for Maverick Viñales

Bad luck for team Calvo rider Maverick Viñales on the third day of the IRTA tests at the Jerez circuit brought his week to an end.

Viñales had started the day very well topping the time sheet. In the final minutes of the first session he managed to beat his best time of last year by 2 tenths, but the Calvo team rider pushed his KTM a bit too hard and he suffered a fall in the Crivillé corner, the fastest of the Andalusia circuit.

What should have been a crash without consequences was worsened by the fact that Maverick got his right hand trapped under his bike. He suffered an injury to his ring finger including the loss of the nail and soft-tissue damage.

After assessing the extend of the injury and cleaning the wound properly in the circuit’s medical centre, Viñales took a plane back to Barcelona, where he’ll be examined this afternoon by the team of Dr. Xavier Mir in the university hospital USP Dexeus. Then Dr. Mir will decide if Maverick needs to see the surgeon. But first assessments by Dr. Mir after viewing the pictures and x-rays of the injury suggest that this will not be necessary.

Both the rider and the Calvo team are confident that Maverick will be ready for the GP of Qatar, with the first free practice session there starting on April 4th at the Losail circuit.

Maverick Viñales #25 – 1’46.603
On the one hand I’m satisfied because we had a great pace and we worked very well. Each day I feel more confident with the bike and the relationship with the team is very good. But on the other hand the crash is a real shame. Now I just have to remain calm and recover as quickly as possible to be able to give it my all in Qatar.

Pablo Nieto (team director)
Without doubt the injury of Maverick is a small set-back, but in the Calvo team we’re very satisfied with the development and progress during the whole pre-season. This was his first crash and because of a little bit of bad luck we’ve taken a small step backwards. But despite this we’re happy and we’re optimistic, because after the first examination here at the circuit’s medical centre, the doctor was hopeful that Maverick wouldn’t have any problems to be fit for Qatar.

Source: Team Calvo Press Release