GARRY McCOY OUT FOR JUNE

Red Bull Yamaha rider, Garry McCoy will watch the Italian Grand Prix this weekend from Mondsee Austria, where he is recuperating from an operation he had last week to address the complications he is having with his right leg.

McCoy was operated on in Vienna on Tuesday 21st May immediately following the Le Mans GP where his surgeon Dr. Weinstabl found the cause of the Australians ongoing pain. It was discovered after an MRI scan that Garry had developed bone spurs growing in his ankle. The surprising find was that the spurs were protruding from the bone which he had broken three and a half years ago in August 1998 when he was involved in a crash with fellow Australian Mick Doohan in Brno.

Garry is feeling much better after the surgery and is aiming to be back on the YZR 500 by the UK Grand Prix in 5 weeks.

Garry McCoy

"My leg feels a bit better after the operation, in fact quite a bit better. I now have more movement in my ankle both up and down and side to side and I can lift my toes up. I have more movement now than ever before, my muscles in my leg aren't use to it and I am having physio now to strengthen the area up.

"On Wednesday (one week after the surgery) I walked for the first time without my crutches, I only walked a little bit and it did not feel too bad. I'm training on a stationary cycle already and building up my strength.

"I am happy that the pain has gone at last. The Surgeon said that my leg was a real mess inside, lots of fibrotic tissue in the joints, plus the bone spurs, he said he gave it a good clean out.
"I'm going back home to Andorra next week and I hope to be racing at Donington. I'm really going to concentrate on my recovery and just see how it goes.

Meanwhile, Frenchman Jean-Michel Bayle, the legendary Motocross Champion and Red Bull Yamaha's Test Rider for 2002, will continue to ride the YZR 500 at Mugello, Italy in place of the injured McCoy.

Peter Clifford, Team Manager

"Jean-Michel tested for us here in Mugello earlier this month in wet conditions and was a great help sorting through tyres and settings. His feedback and experience is tremendously valuable. We are pleased that he will race for us again this weekend and we anticipate that he will be with us for at least the Barcelona GP and the Dutch TT at Assen. JMB will continue to work with our engineers to develop the best possible bike and tyres so that Garry has good equipment when he returns and he is of great support to our "rookie" John Hopkins."

Testing News

McCoy Suffers an Unlucky Break!

Estoril, Portugal


Garry McCoy's (Red Bull Yamaha WCM) dominating pre-season display came to a violent end after the Australian featherweight broke his leg in two places when he crashed, in gusty conditions, on the first day of the Portuguese MotoGP IRTA test, held in Estoril on February 20. McCoy suffered fractures to both the right tibia and fibula, about 10cm above his ankle, and has been airlifted by private jet to Austria for specialist treatment.

Even though the 2002 MotoGP World Championship kicks off in just six weeks McCoy is hopeful that he will be able to grid up for the opening round, due to be held at Suzuka, Japan (April 7). Red Bull Yamaha WCM Team Manager Peter Clifford confirmed McCoy's determination not to miss a single race but realised the possibility hinged on the outcome of the medical assessment. "McCoy wants to race as soon as possible, and we will know more after the treatment in Vienna," he said.

Earlier this week McCoy completed the Valencia, Spain, IRTA test; topping the time sheets on two of the three-days. At the time of this unfortunate incident McCoy was 0.1 second shy of the Estoril circuit's best ever lap with a time of 1'40.18, and had been the fastest rider throughout the session. It appears the notoriously gusty winds played a factor in the crash.

"The wind got under me just as I turned for the that fast right corner around the back of the circuit and there was just nothing I could do to control it, " said McCoy. "It's a real disappointment because the test session had been going according to plan. The bike was feeling good and I had really taken to the new, wider, choice of tyres from Dunlop, which were giving me a lot of positive feedback. Everything was shaping up for a good start to the season. Now I just have to wait and see what the doctors in Austria say about when I can get back racing."

Clifford added: "The specialists in Vienna are amongst the best in Europe for this type of injury and it is absolutely essential Garry receives the best possible treatment. Obviously this is an unexpected setback with the season set to open in just six weeks, although it is still too early to predict anything. That decision will be taken in light of the medical reports from the doctors in Vienna and discussions with Garry."