"Max’s failure to come and talk to us means that, regretfully, this collaboration has now come to an end"
WORLD SUPERBIKE squad Suzuki Alstare has confirmed Max Neukirchner will not be racing for the team in next year's championship.
The German has been plagued by injury throughout the 2009 season after breaking his leg at Monza. Further bad luck followed Neukirchner when he damaged his spine during testing at Imola.
Last week, Visordown unearthed the news that all was not happy within the team. Neukirchner claimed on his own website he was fit, ready to race and would be present for testing at Portimao later in the year, however, the Alstare team denied the German would be competing or testing for them in the near future.
Following the developments Suzuki has released the following statement:
"After his terrible crash at Monza, Max Neukirchner underwent a number of operations which then prevented him from racing for several months.
He was scheduled to return at Brno, but was forced to postpone his comeback after suffering a serious injury to his vertebrae in a fall during the official tests in Imola.
Max then returned to Germany to begin a programme of rehabilitation and recovery but was also then required to undergo two major operations at a clinic in Chemnitz, not far from his home.
In response to many questions about his health, we were informed that he would return at the Nurburgring, then at Imola, and finally at Magny-Cours.
Max's situation was causing concern within Alstare, so we asked him to produce his medical records (during the Imola race weekend) so that the specialists of the Clinica Mobile could confirm his fitness to race again.
Max arrived at the track on Saturday but, as his clinical records were incomplete, new X-rays were required. These X-rays, taken by Dr. Costa's medical staff, showed that excellent work had been carried out by the German surgeons, but also that Max’s recovery might take longer than predicted and that there was still a significant risk to his long-term health.
Alstare then had a telephone conversation, in Max’s presence, with the neurologist of the Chemnitz clinic, who confirmed the diagnosis made by the Clinica Mobile. The neurologist stated that he would not take responsibility for allowing Max to start racing again.
According to these two different medical sources, Max’s recovery could be expected to take between four and six months.
On September 30th 2009, the contract between Max and Alstare should have been automatically extended for 2010. However, as a result of all these issues, we decided to have a meeting with Max on the Sunday after the race in Imola. During this meeting, we informed him that his contract could not be extended while his physical condition remained in doubt.
We asked Max to come to Alleur, with one of his surgeons, the week after Magny-Cours, in order to carry out some tests which would have clarified the true state of his health. Unfortunately Max did not show up at our headquarters as had been agreed.
Alstare Suzuki have had a close collaboration with Max for three years and, during this time, we have encouraged and developed his promise whilst supporting him in the best possible way to enhance his career.
Max’s failure to come and talk to us means that, regretfully, this collaboration has now come to an end. However, we would like to wish him a full and speedy recovery and good luck in the future."
It's rumoured the German will be snapped up by Hannspree Ten Kate Honda, following James Toseland's decision to sign for Yamaha in World Superbikes.
But would you employ a bloke with a dodgy back?!
