The disappearance of the mobile clinic as an entity is an event that is causing a lot of talk in the paddock and firstly because it is a historic player in the Grands Prix who will leave its important mission to another. The mobile clinic was thus set up with nothing by Doctor Costa who was stunned to see that motorcycle riders had almost no medical assistance on the circuits in the event of a serious incident. Since then, careers, limbs and lives have been saved by this Italian project which is now passing into Spanish hands. Like many other things lately. And that obviously provokes a reaction.
The promoter of the world championship, Dorna, announced a new medical facility in the paddock for the 2023 MotoGP season: the health center MotoGP Quirónprevention. A month ago it was disclosed that the “ Mobile Clinic », a true historic player, would leave the MotoGP paddock at the end of the 2022 season after all 45 years of good and loyal service. The work of Dr. Claudio Costa, which offered pilots a wide range of treatment, rehabilitation and relaxation options, is therefore asked to leave the premises. Instead, Dorna has entered into an agreement for 2023 with Quirónprevención, an international healthcare company based in Spain, which has more than 7 employees and 000 centers.
The collaboration will result in a new facility that will offer physiotherapy and a wide range of medical services and treatments in the paddock. The Quirónprevención MotoGP health center is managed by the Dr. Angel Charter, MotoGP medical director. We are therefore among known actors. The structure will be on site during all European Grands Prix, but services will also be offered abroad during the 21 Grands Prix in total.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna, said: “ The agreement we reached with Quirónprevención is excellent news for MotoGP. I am very happy because it is a clear and important improvement for the future. This will not only improve medical services for our drivers, but for the entire paddock – especially since it is an agreement with a global industry leader like Quirónprevención."
For its part, Fernando Camino, general director of Quirónprevención, added: “ it is an honor for us to be part of the MotoGP family and to take care of the health of the riders and help them in the best possible conditions to be able to give the maximum to the World Championship ". Of which act, but no one had anything to reproach this mobile clinic which until then seemed to perfectly fulfill its specifications. The doctor Michael Zasa successor to Claudio Costa, reacted to this outcome, notably reporting the period of how the injury of Marc Marquez which still occupies it had been managed. A critical position first came from Doctor Costa while his colleague Zasa assured that the mobile clinic had not intervened in any way in this process which ended up being concluded by the Americans with a fourth operation on the right arm.
The mobile clinic leaves the paddock: Marc Marquez is not shocked, Valentino Rossi is nostalgic and Aleix Espargaró is waiting to see
Exactly, what does it say Marc Marquez on this replacement? “ What they explained to us is that the service will be the same as Clinica Mobile but with other people and new technologies », declared the eight-time World Champion on crash.net. " I mean the concept will be the same, maybe a little newer ". And he adds: “ you have to adapt to the new world. The name “Clinica Mobile” is a bit poignant, but honestly, Clinica Mobile was with Dr. Costa. As soon as Dr. Costa stopped, Clinica Mobile was never the same. Dr. Costa did this out of passion, so when Dr. Costa left, it was no longer the real Clinica Mobile ».
A critical approach to say the least. On the Italian side, it is Valentino Rossi who reacted as follows: “ there is so much to say... I lived through the crazy years of Clinica Mobile, of Doctor Costa, where we got back on track even if we were all broken. But the greatest service that Dr. Costa has given me is to still have a father thanks to Clinica Mobile. That day at Imola in 1982, they were trying a new thing, which they gave to doctors around the track and which was used to intubate any driver who needed it on site. My father Graziano fell and there was a doctor from Clinica Mobile who crossed the track, because he was on the opposite side, and saved him by intubating him on the spot. More than that, I don’t know what to say.”
The general feeling is perhaps thus defined by Aleix Espargaró : " I have a lot of feelings about this decision. ", did he declare. “ I arrived in this paddock at 15, so I was a kid, and at Clinica Mobile they treated us very well. Of course they can improve in one way or another, but as a driver, they did a very good job, I always felt at home. I have been fortunate to work with both doctors over the course of 15 years of my career, so I would just like to thank them and let's see what the future is for us ».
Headquartered in Spain, Quirónprevención is the “leading company in preventive healthcare”. The Clinica Mobile, which complements the emergency facilities provided by each circuit's medical center, is expected to continue its work in the WorldSBK paddock.
