After his nightmare experience of being left pretty much alone in Doha with a broken leg once the MotoGP circus was over and suffering from complications after surgery, Alvaro is determined to do something about it. “I will talk to the riders and bring it up in the Safety Commission so that it won’t happen again”, he professed to La Gaceta.

As Dr. Angel Villamor implied earlier in his press conference directly after Álvaro had finally made it back to Madrid, the website magazine insists again that a less invasive procedure than which was carried out in Doha would have possibly allowed him to even be back as early as Jerez. But the lack of a medical plane to fly him back to Spain immediately forced the Spaniard to stay in Qatar to undergo the conventional procedure while his regular doctor was in contact with the surgery team on location to help advice them on Álvaro’s treatment.

Villamor had already brought up the topic of medical planes needing to be immediately available at all GPs in this initial press conference and reinforced it in an interview with TVE as well as on his personal Blog.
Giving the examples of Álvaro in Qatar and Fonsi Nieto in Indianapolis last year [Nieto shattered his foot in qualifying and after surgery suffered extreme pain (caused by a drainage problem) for which he was given stronger painkillers. He had an adverse reaction to them and went to respiratory arrest for forty seconds. Nieto subsequently announced his retirement this year due to the still lingering consequences of that injury] Villamor argues that once the MotoGP race is over on Sunday, the injured riders remain behind pretty much alone, feeling abandoned and often not exactly knowing when they can come back home. Communication problems between Clinica Mobile, local hospitals and the rider’s personal doctors back home can also prolong procedures and the recovery process while the rider’s main goal naturally is to get back to racing as soon as possible. To facilitate this, Villamor and Alvaro plead for a better availability of medical planes during GP weekends, to fly out injured riders as quickly as possible.

At the moment Alvaro is in the difficult process of recovering from the fracture and the complications that arose during the first operation [fearing an acute compartment syndrome the doctors opened a 30cm incision over the length of his thigh which was left open for several days, he suffered from internal bleeding in the thigh and needed a blood transfusion to bring his critically low haemoglobin levels up again].
To speed up the process of healing of the bone, the Rizla Suzuki rider has a session of about 40 minutes in a hyperbaric chamber every day. “Other athletes, for example Nadal and a large portion of the Formula 1 paddock, also use this”, he commented. MotoGP fans will remember Valentino Rossi famously using the chamber to great effect after breaking his leg last year, coming back incredibly early after such a tough injury and Randy De Puniet even topping that shortly after, also with the help of a hyperbaric chamber.
The effect of the chamber is similar to altitude training. It’s a sealed chamber with higher than normal pressure in which the patients breathe pure oxygen. According to the provider of the chamber in Madrid, this speeds up the recovery of tissue through the red blood cells and also helps against infection.

Every day Álvaro has to travel for three hours between Talavera and Madrid to see his doctor, his physiotherapist and use the hyperbaric chamber. “He needs to lie down in the car”, says his manager Armando Guerrero. Last Sunday Alvaro watched the Formula 1 race while training on the bike at home. And he’s not only doing the excercises on the programme prescribed by his doctor of confidence, Ángel Villamor, to make sure he can return for the Estoril race on May 1st.

“I thought I was going to have more free time, but I have many visitors at home”, Alvaro says. His girlfriend Noelia works in the morning, just when he is in Madrid, which is a blessing for him. “In the evening it’s ‘Get me this’ and ‘Bring me another’. When I take a shower I need her to help me”, he admits.

In short, he’s currently having a daily routine that is based on the recipe from Dr. Villamor “muscle stretching and resistance exercices” to increase flexibility and elasticity. He does that at the San José hospital in Madrid or in Talavera, where he also works in the pool (700 meters per session). And when he works on the stationary bike he needs to calm down the quadriceps muscle with heat or ice, at the beginning and the end. The one who is not calm at all is Alvaro, who only thinks about returning.

Source: intereconomia.com

Rizla Suzuki’s Álvaro Bautista has made a return to the seat of his Suzuki GSV-R, just two weeks after breaking his left femur in a high-speed crash.

The Spanish star visited his home Grand Prix in Jerez last weekend and, behind the closed doors of the team’s pit-box, Bautista could not resist getting into the riding position on the prototype MotoGP machine after his crash at Qatar just 16 days earlier. Bautista climbed aboard the GSV-R and settled into a racing position on the stationary bike, accompanied by a typical big smile from him and a round of applause from his loyal crew.

Bautista is now undergoing an intensive recovery programme back in Madrid, including the use of a hyperbaric chamber to increase the oxygen flow in his body to aid the healing of his injury. Although no date for Bautista’s full-time return to MotoGP is yet confirmed, he is working as hard as possible to be back on the grid at the earliest possible opportunity.

Álvaro Bautista: “It was strange for me at Jerez last weekend, because I was at the race, but not in the race! Once I saw the bikes on Saturday sitting in the garage, I just had to try and sit on one of them. I tried very slowly to get on the seat, which was a bit difficult, but once I was on there the feeling was not too bad. The most difficult thing was getting on and off, but it was good for me to try because now I know which parts of my leg I have to work on to improve my flexibility and strength to be able to ride – it was a good test for me to find this out! The healing is coming along very well, my doctor says it is very quick, but for me it already seems too slow. The movement is almost normal and the inflammation is coming down, so I think the over the next week I will be a lot better than I am now and will be able to start training so that I can get racing again very soon.”

Source: Rizla Suzuki MotoGP

Alvaro also wrote about his Jerez experience in his latest column for AS, you can read the translation here.

After supporting his team and replacement rider John Hopkins at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, Alvaro wrote his second column for the newspaper AS, published on Tuesday. This is the complete translation.

I was in Jerez, even though I could not ride because I’m still recovering from the femur fracture I suffered in Qatar. In 125cc we saw Nico [Terol] racing perfectly and very smart. In Moto2 we’d like to see Julito [Simon] with more confidence and [Marc] Márquez a bit calmer. And the MotoGP race was chaos. I will continue the recovery to see if I can be in Estoril.

I was there. Hello friends. I am here again to tell you about my view from the Grand Prix of Spain in which, as you know, I could not race because I’m still recovering from the femure fracture I suffered in Qatar. But before getting into the topic, I would like to thank the fans for all the support and affection they have shown me this weekend. The reason why I went to Jerez, to see the fights from behind the fence, is because many of you were saying you’d really like to see me there, even though I can’t be on the bike. So I made an effort to be in the paddock and don’t regret it.

Good organization. The Spanish fans never cease to amaze me. The amount of people who went to see us in Jerez throughout all the weekend is incredible and especially the ones on Sunday, because despite the weather it was packed.
I have to say how well they have changed the organization to access the circuit. Me, when I race, I usually arrive very early and there is little traffic, but this time I could see how it is when going there at the same time as a regular spectator. The entrance to the circuit has been easy and smooth, unlike some years ago. Well done to the organization.

Envy. How jealous was I on Saturday when I saw the laptimes of my fellow competitors. The laptimes were fast, so the track seemed to be really good and I had an immense desire to get back on the bike. I had to abstain. In fact, and this is a secret, when they finished the practice I could not leave the garage without first getting on the bike. It was difficult, but once I did it it was like the first time I’ve been on it, with the same enthusiasm! Of course it was a little painful in the position, but it’s good for me to be prepared for next time, when it will be for real.

The races. In the wet it’s always a lottery and, above all, very long. Everything can happen. In 125cc a perfect and very intelligent Nico with very bad luck for Faubel at the beginning of the season, but he did well. In Moto2 I think we all want to see Julio with more confidence and Marquez continuing the way he already knows, but calmer. He doesn’t have to prove anything.

Chaos. MotoGP was a chaotic race, even though surely for you it was fun, and not the typical race where positions don’t change. The challenge was to stay on. When you take a risk in the wet you might end up paying for it. This happened to many riders and I guess it would have been a good opportunity to get a good result, but I don’t want to think about that…

Getting better. I’m getting a bit better all the time, I keep working hard; in fact my physiotherapist was in Jerez and I did a double shift with him. I also travel daily to Madrid from Talavera, either to be an hour in the hyperbaric chamber or combining that with physiotherapy. My idea is to try to return for the next World Championship race at Estoril, May 1st, but it’s not sure yet. Hopefully on Tuesday after Portugal I can tell you about how I’ve been on the bike, improving from the first to the last session.

‘Tweeting’. Just reminding you that I try to keep you informed at all times about everything related to me through my ‘Twitter’ (@19Bautista). A big greeting to everyone and see you again in just a few weeks.

Source: AS.com

As we reported earlier, Alvaro is in Jerez this weekend to support his team and replacement rider John Hopkins. Spanish magazine MotoCuatro used the opportunity to have a quick chat with the Talaverano and ask him about his recovery.

Álvaro Bautista is in Jerez, not to race but to experience the Grand Prix as a spectator as he continues recovering from the operation of a fractured femur he suffered in a crash during free practice in Qatar.

“The doctor and the physiotherapist told me I’m doing OK, but I have the feeling that the recovery is going very slow,” Alvaro admitted in the Suzuki hospitality at Jerez today. “I’m glad I came to Jerez, it’s much better than to watch it lying on the sofa at home, you get more nervous” he added.

Alvaro’s spirits are rather low, but “luckily it’s getting better”, he’s encouraged. “I’m working to come back in Estoril (1st of May), but everything is going slower than I thought.”

Apparently the problem is that “the operation had some complications, I’ve got an incision of 30cm and I lost many days and a lot of blood,” he recalls.

“After the crash on Friday I would have had to travel to Madrid, if I could’ve done that I could be here in Jerez, racing”, but in Qatar he felt somewhat helpless. “Yes, to be honest I was very lonely, not knowing when I would be able to go back and put myself in the hands of Dr. Villamor who knows how to treat a rider to prepare him for a quick return.”

Bautista explained that “I was there alone with my manager and you get the feeling you’ve been abandoned. On Saturday and Sunday people come to see you, you are cared for, but on Sunday when they finish the races everyone leaves and you feel helpless.”

Alvaro now works every day “with a physiotherapist and at home and I use a hyperbaric chamber to come back in the next race, in Estoril.”

Source: motocuatro.com
Photo courtesy of Rizla Suzuki MotoGP

Following his long and unpleasant journey through hospitals in Doha and Madrid after breaking his left femur two weeks ago, Alvaro’s first target has been to be back at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez this weekend – if only as a spectator to support the team.

His replacement John Hopkins has previously stated that he was delighted to get another chance to ride a MotoGP bike, but that he didn’t want it to happen this way, feeling very sorry for Alvaro and wishing him a fast recovery.
Expectedly Hopkins was stuck to the back end of the field during the first practice session after a long time away from the class, but nevertheless he was pretty close to the riders in front of him.

After another session in the hyperbaric chamber this morning, Alvaro is on his way to Jerez to support John and the team on Saturday and Sunday as well. According to recent Twitter updates from Alvaro his recovery is going well so far, even though of course too slow for his liking, but Dr. Angel Villamor also pointed out that there’s no sense in rushing things since the bone still has to fully heal. The many repeated sessions in the hyperbaric chamber should help speed up this process while Alvaro is gaining mobility in his leg, but still lacking some strength when putting weight on it.

Alvaro’s official fanclub will also again be present at the Spanish circuit in large numbers. Originally planning to travel to Jerez with over 300 fanclub members, the injury and subsequent absence of Alvaro in the race caused some members to cancel, still leaving a total of 278 fans joining the celebrations at the circuit together on the same grandstand.

Source: La Tribuna de Talavera

After a long and stressful journey, Álvaro Bautista has finally made it back home, more than a week after he broke his femur in a high-speed crash at the Losail circuit.

Now he’s back with his family and friends, arriving in his home town Talavera de la Reina today with his close family and his manager Armando Guerrero, who had been by his side the entire time since the crash.
In front of his home he was greeted by the rest of his family and members of his fanclub who gave him standing ovations upon arrival and had prepared a huge banner which read: “Always keep the spirit high, we know that you are strong and this is just another test that you will soon pass. We watch when you practice, we cheer you on when you race and when you crash we help you back up.”

Bautista thanked everyone for the great reception and on crutches he got out of the family car and walked around to greet those present. He also talked about his journey in the past days: “These past few days have been difficult. But I’m home now with my people and I think about recovering quickly and getting back on the bike.”
“From the day when I had the crash I had in mind that I wanted to come to Spain, so that I can be operated by my regular doctor, Angel Villamor, but it was a complicated situation and the doctors there advised me against traveling with my broken leg. We thought it was an easy operation and it actually was and went very well, but what happend was that there were complications when I had an incision of 30 cm to let out the blood. The essential thing was to return to Spain and it was hard. They were difficult times and I thank those who made it possible to bring a medical plane, because without it I didn’t see an end to it”, he added.

Regarding his possible return to racing, Alvaro set his sight on the Portuguese Grand Prix: “My goal is to be in Estoril. It is a month of recovery and when I now put weight on the foot it is difficult. I know I have to work hard, it is my goal and I know I can reach it.”

But he is very aware of his limitations: “I lack mobility in the knee and it will be difficult. The level of strength is not that urgent to recover, because I have not lost much, but the mobility to get on the bike and in left-hand corners. There I need to have good flexibility. That’s the hardest and this will be our aim.”

After these hard times Alvaro Bautista prefers to move on and forget the Qatar GP: “The shock of the crash is over. For better or for worse, crashes happen and injuries too. The worst was the time I spent in the hospital where I was bleeding and everything because of that crash. It was a difficult time, but we must move on. I’ll recover and get back on the bike.”

All the very best wishes from everyone at Vroom Media for a quick and full recovery!

Source: caesarobriga.com

After finally coming back home last night, Álvaro Bautista has been immediately moved to the USP San José hospital in Madrid to put himself in the hands of renowned surgeon Dr. Ángel Villamor.

Álvaro underwent further checks at the clinic including an MRI scan which didn’t find anything unusual with the leg. However, Álvaro was back in surgery last night for another time to close up the wound from the initial operation in Doha.

Today Dr. Villamor held a press conference about Álvaro’s condition. According to the medical report Bati suffered a “displaced transverse fracture of the proximal third of his left femur” which the doctors of the Hamad Medical Corporation fixed in an emergency surgery in Doha, in coordination with Dr. Ángel Villamor, since an immediate transport back to Spain with a medical plane was not possible. Villamor explained the surgery fixed the femur fracture “using an intramedullary nail with proximal and distal interlocking screws”.

“In new scans we did now, we saw the femur fracture being fixed correctly”, added Villamor. “With the patient now being hemodynamically stable we did another surgery to proceed to reduce the quadriceps muscle which was herniated through the open incision (6 x 30 cm on the outer thigh) and for this we used a surgical mesh sutured to the muscles around and proceeded to close and suture the skin of the thigh. ”

“In the first surgical intervention they were suspecting that he was developing a compartment syndrome because of copious bleeding in the thigh, so the doctors decided to perform a longitudinal incision from hip to knee to relieve the inflamed muscles and this incision was opened. They wanted to close it in a new surgery 48 hours later, without success.”

Before his arrival in Madrid Alvaro had a blood transfusion because his hemoglobin level was at seven, while the normal level is 14 and at about nine during these type of necessary interventions.
“Álvaro was in good condition, but in pain, tired and a bit stressed after what he’s been through, but we immediately made an emergency blood test, which showed that his hemoglobin levels had increased.”

“We also did an MRI and ultrasound to confirm and localize the internal bleeding in the thigh, so he was given an intravenous high-dose anti-inflammatory medication and preventive antibiotics which has helped the rider to have a good night. In 5 or 7 days we will know if there has grown any kind of bacteria.”

“After spending a good night, in which if there had been any complications we would have had to do a second surgery which was not necessary, and after closing the wound Alvaro has already had his first physiotherapy session and we believe that in two or three days, with intensive medication and physical therapy to prevent complications and speed up his recovery, he can go home”

Álvaro certainly won’t be fit for the next Grand Prix in Jerez, but “it wouldn’t surprise me the least bit if he was able to participate in the Portuguese Grand Prix”, added Villamor.

Considering everything that happened and after the problems last year for Fonsi Nieto, Angel Villamor said that it would be appropriate “to consider a medical plane for any rider who might find himself in this situation, because I have the feeling that after this kind of misfortune riders are somewhat unprotected.”

“There should be a greater commitment in the professional sport and I think they should demand that the organization becomes more involved for the crash victims”, Villamor concluded.

Source: EFE, USP Hospitales

Alvaro will be a columnist for the website of the Spanish newspaper AS this season and his first column went up on the day he’s expected to finally come back home after his heavy crash in Qatar last Friday. His plane will land in Madrid at 18.30 o’clock tonight and he’ll move directly to the San José hospital to get treated by Dr. Angel Villamor.
This is the complete translation of Alvaro’s first column for AS.com.

Greetings from one of the beds in room 401 of Hamad General Hospital Doha where they brought me on Friday night after fracturing the femur in my left leg. The operation went well and, God willing, I will travel to Madrid today to put myself in the hands of Dr. Villamor. I hope that with him the recovery will go quicker …

Presentation. Hello everyone. First of all I would like to say that it is an honor for me to have this space in AS this year and I am very grateful. I will tell my stories after every Grand Prix weekend, preferably every Tuesday, unless it gets complicated with travel or rare occurrences like this time. It’s an opportunity to communicate to the fans my particular point of view and the one from Qatar, where I still am, starting out with a weekend that was not the best for me. Nevertheless, my debut as a columnist now gives me the opportunity to assure you that I will fight as I always have to be back on the track as soon as possible and to get back to enjoy riding the bike.

The crash. It is easy to explain the crash I suffered on Friday and which still has me confined to the hospital. It happened because I lost the rear tyre. I don’t know if it was too cold or what, but the fact is that I crashed and hit the ground hard, because the bike flung me very high in the air. The impact on the tarmac was heavy and in that moment I broke my left femur.

The races. I know the results from Sunday and I have to congratulate Nico Terol on his victory in the 125cc class. I couldn’t watch the races, because in the room where I am, which I share with three other patients, there is no television, but I was told that he mentioned me in his interview. A heartfelt Thankyou for this. I also know that Lorenzo and Pedrosa were on the podium in MotoGP, which also very good for them. I can’t say much more about the races, because I’m very focused on recovering and trying to get back on the bike as soon as possible.

The hospital. Life is boring in the hospital. The nights especially feel eternal. The hours never end. I’m bored out of my mind, because I have to spend all his time on my back, unable to move and it’s a bit troublesome. The operation went very well and I am quite recovered. God willing and everything going as it should I’ll be back in Madrid today. I will fly out in the morning with an ambulance plane which the Spanish Federation organized for me and the first thing I will do is to go and see my personal physician, Dr. Ángel Villamor, who has always treated me when things like this happened. Once in his hands I hope the recovery will go faster.

Thanks. I have to thank many people who have been thinking of me these days and it would be impossible to mention them all. I would need a whole newspaper… I have received many messages of encouragement via Twitter and I’m proud to see how many people are thinking of me. I like to give all my Twitter followers as much information as I can and if anyone who reads these lines is not a follower yet, you know what you should do. I’d love you to become one of my followrs, so that every time we’ll be more. Thanks a million.

Source: AS.com