Remy Gardner was one of the proofs this past weekend in Indonesia that this trip to Mandalika caused damage in the ranks of the WSBK. The health and physical fitness of the drivers were put to the test and the long wait until the reunion in Assen will ultimately be a blessing to find everyone back on their feet at the end of April. But the Australian also demonstrated that a motorcycle rider can go all out to complete a race. And the Yamaha rider's feat was all the more beautiful as he was rewarded with his best race ranking since his debut in the category reserved for motorcycles from the series.
Before looking at the journey of Remy Gardner en Indonesia, taking stock of the medical situation after this stage in Mandalika. First there are the injured after the Sunday competition: Loris Baz thus suffered a fracture of the right proximal fibula, an avulsion fracture of the right medial malleolus and finally a rupture of the talotibial ligament. The recovery time is to be evaluated for the Bonovo BMW driver.
Let's stay within the Bavarian brand to look at the case of Michael van der Mark, who crashed so heavily in Race 2 that she was stopped at the red flag. The Dutchman fell after seven rounds, with Philipp Öttl who was following him and who was unable to avoid his motorcycle. The German declared that he “ a little sore in the lower parts », while the BMW standard-bearer fared less well: fracture of the base of the central phalanx of the 4th and 5th finger of the left hand. We will not forget among the wounded Jonathan Rhea who suffered a deep abrasion to his thigh after crashing in Race 2.
And then there is Iker Lecuona, Remy Gardner et Eric Granado, struck down by the gastro virus… For the HRC standard bearer, although physically weakened, the problems seem to have been more limited, given that he did not miss a day. But it was a different story for his other two colleagues. The Brazilian from MIE Racing, affected on Wednesday by serious gastroenteritis, was withdrawn on Saturday. On Sunday he attempted the Superpole Race, finishing 19th and behind, only to withdraw from Race 2 as well.
Remy Gardner: “samedi, je me suis dit que ce dimanche, ce n’était même pas possible"
For his part, the GRT rookie Yamaha was out of action all Saturday with also acute gastroenteritis. He held his place on Sunday nevertheless, finishing 14th in the Superpole Race. Then he gave everything in Race 2, going from 20th to 7th! He describes this feat as follows: “ I don't feel great, to be honest. On Saturday, I told myself that this Sunday, it wasn't even possible. We made efforts to return. We tried Warm Up and it was okay. The Superpole Race wasn't so bad ».
« We arrived in Race 2. Unfortunately, we had to start from last place, but, in the end, we had a good race and we managed to move up to seventh place. It wasn't so bad » comments the teammate Dominique Aegerter. “ Honestly, it was a good race and a positive day. It was very difficult. I'm glad it's over and I'm going to go home to rest now! ".
Precisely, he ends with the program that awaits him now: “ we have testing at Montmelo, a two-day test and there are a few things we want to evaluate that will be important. The other days I go to practice and I'm going to work on my cars a little ". Go now to Assen, from April 21 to 23.
WSBK Superbike Indonesia Race 2: classification
Classification credit: WorldSBK.com
