VOL. 55 ISSUE 10 MARCH 13, 2018 P29
ROBERT HEALING UP
T
aylor Robert is well down the road to recovery
but will still be off the bike for a while.
The FMF KTM Factory Racing Team rider
suffered injuries while practicing late last month
after colliding with another rider. Two weeks after
the initial incident, Robert underwent successful
surgery to repair damaged ligaments in his left
thumb, as he begins his next step toward recov-
ery. In addition to his thumb injuries,
Robert also sustained a fractured
ulna and radius in his left arm, both of
which have shown favorable healing
thus far. According Robert's doctor,
the bones in Robert's arm are ex-
pected to heal at the same time as his
thumb, giving him another four weeks
until the cast is removed and he's able
to start physical therapy.
Robert's exact return to racing is
still undetermined but the team is
confident that he will be back on the
bike before the first half of the season
is over. CN
TEAM HRC BACK IN SUZUKA 8 HOURS
A
fter three straight wins by the factory Yamaha Rac-
ing team, Honda has decided to field a full works
entry in the 2018 Suzuka 8 Hours—the first such entry
in 10 years.
The team will be managed by former five-time Su-
zuka 8 Hours winner and MotoGP race winner Tohru
Ukawa, with 2017 Japan Superbike Champion Takumi
Takahashi named as one of the riders. His two team-
mates are yet to be named.
"We're aiming for the win, obviously," says Tohru
Ukawa, "but the key thing is to recreate an official
HRC team to give young Honda riders a renewed
dream, fresh ambition and a new
future."
The last time Honda won the
Suzuka 8 Hours was in 2014
with riders Takahashi, Leon
Haslam and Michael van der
Mark. CN
Tohru Ukawa (left)
with his rider Takumi
Takahashi. He has
been charged with
bringing the Suzuka
8 Hour title back to
Honda.
Taylor Robert is
well on the road to
recovery but it will
still be a few months
before he gets back
on the bike.
