MotoGP: Jack Miller Sidelined For Czech Grand Prix

Jack Miller wanted to race this weekend’s Czech Republic MotoGP round at Brno, but cooler heads prevailed and the Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider will sit it out to give his injuries more time to heal. Miller had a nasty crash at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, suffering a fractured T6 vertebrae and wrist.

The Australian wanted to give it the old school boy’s try anyhow and was declared fit to ride by medical staff at the Brno circuit. However, those around him – HRC, the rider's management and the team – took the decision to withdraw Miller from this weekend's race to allow him more time to recover, not just from the back injury but also from the wrist fracture he sustained in the same crash.

"Jack is a racer, so he obviously wanted to race after being passed fit today,” Team Principal Michael Bartholemy said. “However, after discussions with both HRC and Jack's management team, we have made the decision to withdraw him from the Czech Grand Prix. For us it's more important that he has more time to recover from the crash in Austria, because we want him back to full fitness as soon as possible. Our priority is to have a fully fit rider back on the bike and that's why we made this decision."

Miller is expected to return at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix on September 4.