World Superbike riders Eugene Laverty and Leon Haslam are at various mile markers on their race for fitness before the World Superbike season opener this weekend at Phillip Island. And it appears Laverty is winning, while Haslam probably will fall short.
Aprilia factory rider Laverty is expected to participate in the opening practice Friday despite suffering a broken hand in a practice crash Feb. 15 at Phillip Island. He has undergone five hours of physical therapy per day since the crash to increase mobility and strength in his injured hand.
"I have flown my doctor out to Australia to help with my rehabilitation, and we have been working constantly on my injury for five hours every day," Laverty said. "I feel confident that I will be fit to ride, but I guess I will have to wait until Friday to find out. Honestly, I feel that Carlos Checa and my teammate Max (Biaggi) are out of reach unless I am 100 percent, but it won't stop me from trying."
Haslam will try to ride his factory BMW at Phillip Island despite surgery Thursday in Melbourne to place screws in a broken right tibia suffered in a testing crash Monday at Phillip Island. He also suffered multiple fractures in both feet during the vicious, high-side spill.
"My plan is to try and do two or three laps on Friday afternoon to put a qualifying time in - just in case it rains on Saturday morning," Haslam said. "I'll know pretty much straight away if I'll be able to complete the races on Sunday.
"They kept the trauma to the area to a minimum during surgery, so there is a slim chance I may be able to race this weekend. I'll have to see how it goes overnight."
American John Hopkins already has been ruled out for the opener due to surgery on a broken bone in his right hand, just below the finger that was partially amputated earlier this year due to lingering effects of another crash last August. Australian Josh Brookes will replace Hopkins on a Crescent Fixi Suzuki at Phillip Island.
WSBK "rookie" Chaz Davies was suffering from severe stomach flu earlier in the week.
