MotoGP, Raul Fernandez forced to withdraw from the Le Mans Grand Prix

The French Grand Prix for Raul Fernandez lasted just 3 laps. The RNF team rider knew he was attempting an almost impossible feat returning to the race just over a week after surgery on his right arm. "I had a very serious compartment syndrome problem, the doctors had to intervene on 9 forearm muscles making 3 incisions" he explained yesterday.

The Spaniard wanted to leave no stone unturned ("the doctors assured me that trying to race wouldn't have been a risk for me or for the other riders"), but it simply wasn't possible. He immediately realised that he wasn't in a position to push a MotoGP bike to the limit, lapping about ten seconds behind the best.

At that point he decided to bring an end to his participation in the GP to continue with his recovery and be in top form at Mugello in about a month. At Le Mans, Lorenzo Savadori will be the only rider of the RNF team, replacing Oliveira, who is also injured.