Injury extends McPhee stay in Ozposted in OTHER08 | 11 | 2016
SCOTS MOTORCYCLE ACE John McPhee, who was injured in a horrific crash in Australia 17 days ago, has now been told the earliest he will be safe to fly home is December 4.
The 22-year-old from Oban was thrown from his Moto3 GP bike when lying fourth in the race at the Phillip Island circuit near Melbourne. He was subsequently hit by another rider and knocked unconscious.
The impact also broke the thumb on his left hand and perforated both his lungs. As a result of the chest injuries, pockets of air formed in his upper chest.
Originally McPhee was informed he wouldn’t be fit to fly for between two and three weeks. Doctors have now extended that to six weeks.
Related: McPhee in horror Moto3 GP crash
“John saw the consultant today who told him the pocket of gas remains in the upper chest,” Peter Ball, who manages McPhee on behalf of the Racing Steps Foundation, said today. “Therefore he will not be signed off to fly safely until the six week window has passed.”
And McPhee, who became the first Scot for 54 years to win a two-wheel grand prix when he won the Moto3 GP in the Czech Republic in August, faces further surgery on his damaged thumb.
“John has a follow-up appointment for his thumb on Wednesday,” Ball continued. “The surgeon has suggested the second operation to remove the pins goes ahead on December 2.”
Related: McPhee bags maiden Moto3 GP win
McPhee’s parents, Maggie and Alasdair, have been ‘Down Under’ spending time with him aiding his recovery
Last Saturday he attended the Australian Supercross Championship in Melbourne as a VIP guest and appeared in their programming.
This coming weekend McPhee will travel, by train, to Sydney to be a studio guest for the Fox TV’s coverage of the MotoGP season finale in Valencia.
On his return to Europe, McPhee is set to put pen-to-paper on a new deal for 2017 which will see him switch from his current Peugeot MX Saxoprint team to a more competitive Honda-powered bike. Details of the team and sponsors won’t be released until the agreement is signed.
Related: McPhee's racing steps to success
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Jim McGill