Marc VDS Honda rider Jack Miller will miss next weekend’s MotoGP race at Motegi after fracturing his right tibia in a training accident in Spain.
The Australian suffered a fracture to the top of the tibia on his right leg when he put his foot down to save a crash while out training on his trials bike in Andorra last Friday.
Miller – who is 12th in the MotoGP standings on 56 points after the first 14 rounds – was taken to the Hospital Universitari Dexeus in Barcelona surgery, where eight screws and a plate were inserted to fix the fracture.
The Marc VDS rider is able to move his leg already and will begin physiotherapy back in Andorra in order to get him fit enough for his home round at Phillip Island a week after the Japanese Grand Prix.
“Obviously I’m both disappointed and frustrated to have to sit out the Japanese Grand Prix through an injury sustained while training, especially as it wasn’t even a crash,” said Miller.
“We were out trials riding and I put a foot down when I lost traction from the front tyre. Nine times out of ten that would have been the end of the story, especially at such a low speed, but this time I must have caught my foot on something and ended up fracturing my right tibia close to the knee.
“The injury has been stabilised with a plate and screws and I already have some movement, but it’s clear that I won’t be fit for Motegi.
“However, I am determined to be back on the bike at Phillip Island and that’s what I’ll be working towards now with the physiotherapist.”
Miller – who will move to the Pramac Ducati team next season – spent much of last year recovering from a double break in his right leg in a motorcross training accident just prior to the beginning of pre-season testing.
The Australian’s broken right leg comes just a month after Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi suffered a fracture to his right tibia and fibula in a similar incident while training in Italy.
The Italian missed his home race at Misano, but sensationally raced to fifth place at the Aragon Grand Prix just 23 days after sustaining the injury.
Marc VDS has not announced a replacement for Miller for the Motegi race at present, but will be required to by the regulations should he be unable to ride at Phillip Island.
