Source: Supplied.

Red Bull Honda’s Stefan Bradl will miss the remaining two rounds of the 2017 Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), it was confirmed over the weekend in France.

The 27-year-old German high-sided in the early stages of race one at Portimao and was forced to miss the second encounter due to strong pain in his right wrist.

Following extensive medical checks back home in Augsburg, Germany, and being diagnosed with a torn scaphulonate ligament, Bradl underwent arthroscopy surgery last Thursday in which doctors inserted pins and wire to put back the two sides of the torn ligament in position so that the healing process can begin.

A seven-week full rest of the right forearm has been ordered by the group of doctors who performed the surgery, with a total of eight weeks required before Bradl will be able to begin with physiotherapy.

“Obviously it’s quite a difficult time for me, as it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that I won’t be able to race for the rest of the season,” Bradl said. “I have to stay positive though and try to do everything needed to make sure that my hand and wrist are fully healed. Rest is now priority number one for the healing process.

“Luck hasn’t been on our side this year, but I couldn’t imagine that the consequences of my crash in Portimao were going to be so severe. I want to thank everybody who worked with me this year, it hasn’t been an easy one, not only from the sporting side but also for the tragedy we all had to endure early on. There’s not much I can do right now, but I will follow the races on TV and support the team from here.”

A new evaluation of Bradl’s wrist condition will be made later this month in order to determine the exact date for the second surgery, in which pins and wire will be removed. The team has not yet determined Bradl’s replacement rider for the remaining two rounds of the season.