Honda World Motocross rider Max Nagl will not participate in the Czech Republic Grand Prix this weekend, as the German rider has been diagnosed with the notorious Epstein-Barr virus ahead of round 14 of the MX1 World Championship.
Nagl has struggled in recent events with tiredness and illness, which has thwarted his progress while racing at the highest level in the MX1 series. Further tests after last weekend’s race in Germany have confirmed the Epstein-Barr virus, which has affected a number of motocross athletes previously, especially as they are putting their bodies to the ultimate test on a regular basis.
Unfortunately the debilitating condition is incredibly difficult to treat, and requires rest to allow the immune system to recover. A common symptom of the disorder is fatigue, and in athletes the stress resulting from the fatigue can make symptoms worse. Nagl is receiving specialist medical treatment to help him overcome the illness, which at the moment is thought to be a mild case after the initial diagnosis. It is not yet known when Nagl will return to the racetrack.
This leaves Evgeny Bobryshev to fly the flag for the Honda World Motocross team this weekend. The Russian racer struggled in the German heat last weekend, but demonstrated good speed aboard his Dunlop-shod factory CRF450R. The weather forecast is again expected to be hot with temperatures soaring above 30°C, so the Honda pilot will need to dig deep to earn the results he is capable of.
Max Nagl #12:
“As a racer one of the hardest things to do is to sit on the sidelines and not be out there doing my job, although it is for the best that this decision has been made. I am incredibly disappointed, but also relieved that we’ve found the cause of why I’ve been feeling so ill, and struggling to have the power to finish the races. We were so close to the podium on a regular basis, but then I just haven’t felt good, and I have had some health issues that we haven’t been able to get to the bottom of. The medical experts have said it is a mild case of the Epstein-Barr virus, which is something we’ve heard of in quite a few other motocross racers, and hopefully my recovery won’t take too long, as at the moment it isn’t at a chronic stage. Unfortunately it’s not an easy thing to fix, and I need to rest my body, but I am receiving treatment for it, so all I can hope for is that I can be back racing as soon as possible with t he strength to achieve the results we should be. I want to say sorry to my mechanics and the team, because they have been working so hard, but the most important thing is to come back fully fit and not worsening the situation with my health.”
Evgeny Bobryshev #777:
“I went back home after Germany to do some training and to see the doctor for a check-up. I was tired after the Germany race, and it was a terrible weekend with the heat, but I’ve been going to my doctor regularly to keep on top of things. In my blood I have some deficiencies, so the main concentration is to get everything back to a peak level. Loket isn’t my favourite track, but it doesn’t get as bumpy and rough as in Germany. The heat might make things tough, but all I can do is my best. The speed is definitely coming back, as I was regularly battling with the top five riders in the sessions, but I need to be able to take that to the race and finish the motos in a higher position.”
