Hand injuries hamper World Superbike riders

It seems like MotoGP riders suffer broken legs and collarbones, while World Superbikes riders suffer broken hands.
The three days of private testing at Phillip Island that saw a strew of crashes which resulted in three riders, John Hopkins, Eugene Laverty and David Salom all ending up with hand injuries that could keep them from taking part in the season opener.

Hopkins broke a bone at the base of his right hand – the same area where part of his ring finger was amputated – on the first day of testing of his Crescent Fixi Suzuki and had to return to the States to have it checked out and has informed fans via Twitter that he may now may have to undergo still another operation and this could be his 29th (!) surgery of his racing career.

Hopkins will be replaced by Joshua Brookes in the season opener.
Pedercini’s Kawasaki’s David Salom also crashed on the first day and that resulted in the rider sustaining a fractured left scaphoid.
The Spaniard explained he will not need surgery and intends to try to ride in next week’s official tests that take place on the 20th and 21st of February.

Pedercini has already replaced Leandro Mercado who is out with a pre-season injury – he fractued his radius – with Bryan Staring.

And last but not least, Eugene Laverty.
Laverty’s Aprilia RSV4 brake pads were knocked back on Wednesday causing him to crash at turn 1 at 315 kph which resulted in a fracture of the third metacarpal of his left hand.
Laverty say’s he’s going to try to ride and is staying in Australia but having his personal physician fly in to check him out.