Eine Woche vor dem Saisonauftakt auf dem Lausitzring steht der Start von Luca Grünwald in der IDM Supersport 600 auf der Kippe. Der 24-jährige Waldkraiburger vom Kawasaki Schnock Team Motorex erlitt am vergangenen Wochenende einen schweren Testunfall. Nach einem Highsider landete er direkt auf seinem Motorrad.
Grünwald was admitted to the Helios Bördeklinik in Oschersleben with suspected lung and spinal injuries. Fortunately, no serious spinal injury was diagnosed there. The three fractured lumbar vertebral processes are healing without surgery. Grünwald also suffered a lung contusion and a broken nose.
Grünwald is now back home in Bavaria and needs to take it easy for the next five days. Despite the severity of his injuries, he hasn’t completely ruled out competing in the first round of the 2019 IDM. “I have an appointment with a back specialist next week. I think it didn’t look good at first, but it’s not quite as bad as it seemed.”
The ZX-6R rider is allowed to move around a bit, but not train. The normal recovery process is estimated to take four to six weeks. “But maybe I’ll be halfway back to form by the start of the season and still be able to ride. I’m definitely going to give it a try,” Grünwald says. “If I can barely move, though, it won’t make much sense. I have to stay calm and wait it out. I can’t force anything anyway.”