RAZGATLIOGLU TO HAVE SHOULDER SCAN AFTER MANDALIKA CRASH

Toprak Razgatlioglu will have an MRI on his right shoulder when he returns to Turkey after a heavy crash during final practice at the Indonesian Grand Prix. The Pramac rider was thrown from his Yamaha in a highside at Mandalika and dislocated his shoulder on impact with the asphalt. The scan will establish whether surgery is needed. “I hope I won’t need surgery and that some rest will be enough to recover for the next race,” he said.

Despite the injury, Razgatlioglu returned for qualifying and finished Saturday’s Sprint in 19th. But his condition worsened overnight, and he retired from Sunday’s 27-lap Grand Prix on lap nine. He said the shoulder had been manageable the previous day, but he woke with more pain and less movement. Painkillers helped with the discomfort, though he said the greater problem was the loss of strength after the shoulder came out and was put back in.

The team told him to stop if he felt unwell, but Razgatlioglu chose to try to ride. “Every lap is getting worse,” he said, particularly through the direction changes between corners seven and eight, and 13 and 14. Moving the shoulder slightly made it feel as if it had come out again.

Razgatlioglu said he was disappointed after a weekend that had started well, with progress each day before the crash. “The crash changed everything and the weekend is gone,” he said. He will have almost two weeks to recover before the next round at Phillip Island, scheduled for October 23-25. “We will see what the doctors say, but I hope I can come back stronger next weekend.”