Lennox Lehmann's dream of competing in the legendary Suzuka 8-Hour Race has come to an end. After a violent highside during Friday's free practice, the 20-year-old from Dresden has had to cut short his participation in the third round of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) in Japan and head home.
After finishing second in the EURO MOTO Supersport race Supersport Most, Lehmann (Team Apreco Yamaha) hopped right on the first flight to Suzuka. Together with Dirk Geiger and Twan Smits, Lehmann was set to compete for Motobox Kremer Racing in Japan—but then came the shock. During Friday’s practice, he crashed his Yamaha YZF-R1 at full speed on the start-finish straight due to a highside. Such a crash is extremely unusual on that section of the track. There were many indications that there was liquid on the track.
Lehmann rolled over several times and skidded across the asphalt. The severity of the crash is evident not only from his completely destroyed leather suit and helmet, but also from the video footage released by the EWC.
Lehmann is scheduled to undergo surgery as early as Monday
A blessing in disguise: Lehmann crashed on the edge of the track. He wasn’t hit by any of the riders behind him and was able to leave the track under his own power. He broke the little finger on his right hand. After consulting with his doctor and physical therapists, it became clear that the fracture is more complicated than initially thought and requires surgery as soon as possible—especially with the EURO MOTO season in mind. Lehmann is third in the EURO MOTO Supersport. For the Saxon rider, the Suzuka weekend was thus over. Twan Smits and Dirk Geiger will compete in the race without him. Lehmann is expected to undergo surgery at the hospital as early as Monday.