A huge high-side during qualifying at Croft prematurely ended Sendo
Superbike rider Jon Kirkham's weekend with injuries sustained preventing him
from making the annual journey north to Knockhill.
The small finger on his right hand has required extensive surgery including
skin grafts over the last couple of weeks. The tendon though has taken the
brunt of the impact and the initial prognosis from specialists was that it
may take upto 12 weeks to fully heal.
Jon has indicated that the healing process was going better than expected
and he hoped to be back in the saddle within three weeks which may rule out
a return to active duty until after the next round at Snetterton.
"The finger is a bit of a mess. The doctors have been able to repair the
tendon and the skin graft is healing faster than expected. Their diagnosis
was 12 weeks to fully heal so I'm ahead of schedule. It's tempting to try
for Snetterton but I have been warned that if I tear the tendon completely
it will take more than 12 months to fix. I'm just going to have to wait and
see."
Jon's injury strangely enough has come at the right time as the Sendo
Superbike team are not attending this weekends round at Knockhill for
financial reasons. Title sponsor Sendo and Dienza Performance are currently
working together to find alterative arrangements for the team to complete
the season.
Jon said there is never a good time for a rider to have an injury except in
the current circumstances.
"Having an injury such as this during the season would ordinarily be a real
concern. With the situation the team is currently in though I have actually
been quite lucky. I have full confidence in Enzo and everyone involved that
it will sort itself out in the next couple of weeks. We have a great team
and package and I'm sure the squads return to the championship will coincide
with my return from injury."
