Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow has undergone successful surgery in Modena, Italy, to cure a right arm problem that has troubled the talented British rider in the first two races of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship.

The 2009 World Supersport champion underwent a routine operation at the Policlinico di Modena yesterday, a hospital that specialises in hand and arm surgery, under the supervision of Dr Antonio Landi. He is under observation of the Clinica Mobile staff and Dr. Costa who will be following him all way through his recovery.

Crutchlow has been suffering with arm pump in the opening two races in Qatar and Jerez, which is a common condition in MotoGP given the physical demands of competing in the elite class. In Crutchlow's case, muscles in his right arm were trapping nerves and causing numbness in his right hand and arm while riding his YZR-M1 machine.

After finishing 11th in a fantastic MotoGP debut in Qatar last month and then eighth in an incident-packed Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, Crutchlow took advantage of the long break prior to the next race in Estoril on May 1 to complete the surgery.

Crutchlow will have stitches removed in 12 days time and he is confident he will be fully fit when practice for the Estoril round in Portugal commences on April 29.


Cal Crutchlow:

"Since the start of the year I've had a problem with my arm muscles and nerves and my hand went numb when I was riding. It started in Sepang in testing and it occurs each time I ride the bike. Therefore we decided to do this operation to solve the issue, so I can be in 100 per cent physical condition for the rest of the season. With this break we have now, it was the perfect time to have the surgery and be assured that I can be back in peak condition for the next race in Portugal. At the moment I can't feel two of my fingers, but the doctor said that is completely normal and that the feeling will come back very soon. They had to move the muscles from the nerves as the muscle was trapping the nerves and that's why I was losing feeling in my hand and arm. The doctors said that in 12 days the stitches will come off and I will be able to ride in Portugal, so I'm really looking forward to riding the bike without the problem with my arm.”

Hervé Poncharal – Team Manager:

"To have surgery once the season has started is always a worry, but I think Cal made the right decision as we have this long break now before the next race in Portugal. If he didn't have the operation the problem could get bigger and bigger, and you need to be at 100 per cent to ride in MotoGP and be competitive. I remember Marco Melandri had the same problem in 2004 and he had the same surgery between Catalunya and Assen, which were back-to-back races. He had the surgery on the Monday after the race in Spain and only five days later he was on the podium in Assen and it was no problem. Cal has much more time to recover, so we hope to see him without this problem and continuing his amazing start for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team in Estoril. We are very happy with his progress so far and hopefully now he will be free from the arm problem we will only see him getting stronger.”