Gino Rea is able to breath on his own and without the aid of a ventilator for the first time since a horrific accident in the build up to the Suzuka 8 Hours earlier this month.
The 32-year old has now spent 11 days in hospital following the incident during Free Practice 2 for the Japanese event - Round 3 of the 2022 Endurance World Championship he is contesting with the FCC TSR Honda team - on 6 August [Saturday].
Knocked unconscious in the impact - which involved no other rider - Rea’s family confirmed in the ensuing days that he was in a coma after suffering serious head injuries and swelling on the brain.
Since then, however, the bi-daily updates have become increasingly more positive. Having been brought out of his coma for a time on 13 August [Saturday], a tweet from his manager Terry Rymer on 15 August [Monday] stated he was also now communicating through blinks and squeeze hands.
This has now progressed yet further some 24 hours later with confirmation that Rea is now able to breathe on his own and is ‘beginning to communicate’
“Positive results on Gino’s recovery.
“The ventilator has been removed. He is now breathing on his own and beginning to communicate with family.
“Family and the hospital team are very happy with his progress.
“Thanks for the support.”
The BSB and WorldSSP race winner was due to contest the Suzuka 8 Hours alongside Mike di Meglio and Josh Hook with the French-Australian pairing went on to finish tenth in the race.
It is still not clear as to the circumstances that led to Rea crashing on the run to the Triangle Chicane, the notorious spot where MotoGP rider Dajiro Kato suffered fatal injuries during the 2003 Japanese MotoGP.
