Arnaud Tonus has received the all-clear to prepare for the GP of the Netherlands at Easter after it was discovered that the injuries sustained 11 days ago in Qatar are not as bad as initially feared.
The Team CLS MX2 Kawasaki Monster Energy Pro Circuit rider was forced to retire from the MX2 race at the opening GP in Qatar with pain in his right leg and missed the second GP of the season in Thailand last weekend.
Medical investigations in Switzerland and Marseille have revealed that the initial diagnosis, which indicated that he had suffered a hairline crack to the right tibia he had broken at the end of 2012 when he landed heavily on the landing of a triple jump in Qatar, was incorrect. Indeed his doctor back home in Switzerland and a French leg specialist who works for the Marseille football club confirmed that nothing was broken.
Arnaud has to rest for a few more days before he can resume training on his KX250F, but the Swiss talent is already able to start physical training in preparation for his comeback in Holland. Although he will be unable to contest the opening rounds of the French MX1 Elite series, Arnaud will attend the first event in Sommières as a spectator and will be available for autograph sessions with the fans.
He will also support Jordan Lacan, who had just been confirmed to ride a 450 CLS Kawasaki; already part of the team for the closing rounds of last season’s European and World Championships, the French teenager is already testing his new 450 alongside Bruno Losito, his sporting coach. Jordan will also be involved with CLS Kawasaki in the 250 European series, and will be one of the favourites for the title.
Arnaud Tonus said: “I was relieved when the doctors confirmed that nothing was broken, even if I still have pain in my leg. In fact I had a strong impact on my tibia when I landed from a big jump in Qatar, and that’s why it was so painful. Everyday I feel that it’s coming better and I think that within a few days I will be back on my bike; at the moment I can go cycling and do some other sporting activities to stay in good shape. I will go to Germany tomorrow to adapt my Ortema knee brace to my leg, and then I will visit the opening round of the French series in Sommières to support the team.”
Jean Jacques Luisetti said: “After the initial diagnosis in Qatar we asked Arnaud to fly back to Europe for more examinations, and now we have confirmation that he has not suffered a serious injury. What was supposed to be a crack in his leg is just a sequel of his former fracture; it’s still painful and that’s why he has to rest for a few more days, but next week he will be back on his bike. To respect our contract with the team partners we had to find another rider for the French MX1 Elite, and we are pleased to confirm that Jordan Lacan, who raced some events with us last year, has been selected; I’d like to thanks personally team HDI, who agreed to release Jordan, and all our partners for their support. This weekend Arnaud will come in Sommières as a spectator, and then he will be able to reassume riding in preparation for the GP of the Netherlands.”
