During the first Superbike race of the EURO MOTO series in Oschersleben, engine failure on Twan Smits’ Yamaha triggered several serious crashes. Miraculously, all riders were able to get out of the gravel trap on their own. Twan Smits injured his right hand.
The motorcycles were rebuilt in time for the second race. In theory, Smits would have been ready to race again, but the Dutch rider was missing from the grid. “After further examinations with specialists, we ultimately decided to withdraw him from the second race,” explains Apreco-Yamaha team principal Corine Brandhorst.
What’s next for the only Yamaha rider in the EURO MOTO Superbike series? “X-rays and MRI scans were performed over the past few days. These revealed injuries in the so-called tri-scaphoid region of his right hand,” Brandhorst announced. “Twan will compete in the two race weekends at Assen and the Nürburgring wearing a special splint and under the supervision of a medical specialist who will monitor the situation directly at the racetrack. We’ll have to wait and see if he can complete the full race distance on each Sunday, but we’re confident that top-6 finishes are possible.”
Twan Smits isn't just worried about his hand—he's also concerned about his competitors. “I feel sorry for all the riders who were involved in the crash, especially Florian Alt and Markus Reiterberger. We had a great battle that was really fun, and I hope we can have that duel again someday.”
The 22-year-old announced: “Right now, my focus is on my recovery and on scoring important championship points over the next two race weekends, before I hope to be fully fit again at Hockenheim. That’s why I won’t be competing in the FIM Endurance World Championship’s 24-hour race, the Bol d’Or. I’m focusing entirely on my recovery for EURO MOTO.”
Marketing Manager Wim Vermeulen issued a statement regarding the engine failure in Oschersleben: “The R1 engines used in the Superbike class are supplied and maintained by Ten Kate at Yamaha’s request. The second engine was installed during the third race weekend in Most and was a completely new engine meeting the latest technical specifications. Initial analyses show that a connecting rod failed immediately after Twan shifted gears. This initially led to a brief loss of power and subsequently to a complete engine failure. All recorded parameters were within the specified operating limits. Both the oil pressure remained within the approved range at all times, and the engine was not over-revved at any point during the entire race weekend. Further investigations will be conducted in the coming days.”