Crutchlow undergoes arm surgery

From motogp.com

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Cal Crutchlow underwent successful surgery in Modena, Italy last Thursday to cure a right arm problem that has troubled the talented British rider in the first two races of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship.

The 2009 World Supersport champion underwent a routine operation at the Policlinico di Modena, a hospital that specializes in hand and arm surgery, under the supervision of Dr Antonio Landi. He is under observation of the Clinica Mobile staff and Dr. Costa who will be following him all way through his recovery.

Crutchlow has been suffering with arm pump in the opening two races in Qatar and Jerez. In Crutchlow's case, muscles in his right arm were trapping nerves and causing numbness in his right hand and arm while riding his YZR-M1 machine.

After finishing 11th in his MotoGP debut in Qatar last month and then eighth in an incident-packed Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, Crutchlow took advantage of the long break prior to the next race in Estoril on May 1 to complete the surgery.

Crutchlow will have stitches removed in 12 days time and he is confident he will be fully fit when practice for the Estoril round in Portugal commences on April 29.

"Since the start of the year I've had a problem with my arm muscles and nerves and my hand went numb when I was riding," Crutchlow explained. "It started in Sepang in testing and it occurs each time I ride the bike. Therefore we decided to do this operation to solve the issue, so I can be in 100 percent physical condition for the rest of the season. With this break we have now, it was the perfect time to have the surgery and be assured that I can be back in peak condition for the next race in Portugal."