Zoom Niccolo Canepa

He hoped until the last moment but Niccolò Canepa, Pramac Racing rider, is obligated to skip the last race of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship after the injury suffered during the Australian Grand Prix last 16th of October.

After surgery with the skin transplant at Melbourne hospital, the Italian rider had to miss the race in Malaysia, but after today's medical check-up doctors have suggested leaving the arm at rest for a bit longer to avoid the reopening of the cut.

"I am very sad as I will not be able to step on track this weekend at Valencia. I really cared about competing in this last Grand Prix of the season to end it with a good result”, he said. “I want to thank the Pramac Racing Team, Paolo Campinoti and Ducati Corse for this fantastic experience I have lived. Now I will have to think about getting back at the best physical conditions and go back on track whichever will be my next sport adventure."

As a consequence the Pramac Racing Team has chosen to bring on track again Aleix Espargarò; the Catalan rider will have therefore the possibility to ride for the first time as a MotoGP rider on Spanish soil after the three races in Indianapolis, Misano and Sepang.

"First of all I want to wish Niccolò Canepa a quick recovery: I hope to see him back on track really soon. For me this will be a really particular weekend full of emotions: it will be my first Grand Prix as a MotoGP rider on Spanish soil”, he explained. “I will race in front of my fans and I hope to don't disappoint them. In the previous races ridden with the Pramac Racing Team I went quite well but I still have to improve a lot to compete for better positions. Naturally I still need some time, I am still the rider with the less experience in this category and I have a lot to learn."

"We are very sad that Niccolò will not make it to race with us this last Grand Prix of the season”, commented Team Principal Paolo Campinoti. “Last year he has done a quite good job here during the first winter test and he could have achieved a good result also in this occasion. We would like to thank him for the work done this year and we wish him the best of luck for a future rich of success whichever road he will take. He is a talented rider who has to accumulate more experience to come back at the top level. His place will be taken once again by Aleix Espargarò: in every race he has competed with us this season he has done quite well and we are confident he will be able to do the same this weekend in Valencia."

© CAPSIS International