Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

MotoGP racers Alex Barros, Marco Melandri and Daijiro Kato – all injured during the SKYY VODKA Grand Prix of Japan April 4-6 at Suzuka – are showing signs of progress, according to Clinica Mobile’s Dr. Claudio Costa.

Barros suffered a “minor impact fracture and sprained anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments” of his left knee, according to Dr. Costa, after doctors with the Clinica Mobile in Italy reviewed an MRI scan of Barros’ knee sent from his home in Brazil. Dr. Costa reports that no ligament tearing was found and that Barros is doing physical therapy in Brazil rather than testing his Gauloises Yamaha YZR-M1 at Suzuka with other Yamaha riders. Barros expects to be ready for the South African Grand Prix April 25-27.

Melandri had multiple fractures in his right leg examined by Clinica Mobile doctors in Italy recently, who placed the leg in a cast which allows Melandri to walk. However, Dr. Costa reports that Melandri will have the cast removed soon to begin physical therapy on his injured right leg.

Melandri highsided his Fortuna Yamaha YZR-M1 during practice on Friday, April 4 at Suzuka, hit a wall and suffered several serious fractures of his upper and lower right leg as well as a broken nose, according to reports from Japan. Dr. Costa reports that Melandri wants to be back on his Yamaha for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez May 9-11.

Dr. Costa’s update on Kato’s condition details how severely injured the 26-year-old Japanese rider is but also indicates progress. In an April 8 report on his website, http://www.ducati.com/clinica_mobile/news.jhtml, Costa reported that Kato had “serious brain injuries with extensive haemorrhaging that worsens towards the base and the brain stem. Dislocation of the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae with fracturing of the 3rd and, consequently, devastating damage to the spinal chord. Numerous shoulder and upper limb fractures.”

Dr. Costa’s April 8 report also includes a very moving, first-person recount of the efforts by Costa and other medical workers who attended to Kato at Suzuka.

In an April 10 update, Dr. Costa writes that Kato “is surprising the doctors with some improvements.” Although Kato is still dependent on a respirator to breathe, his heartbeat and blood pressure remain stable and his brain is “reacting and sending life signals to the monitors,” according to Dr. Costa.

Since 1977 the Clinica Mobile has been traveling with the Grand Prix series, and later the World Superbike Championship, to provide emergency medical care, 24 hours a day, to people in the race paddock. Racers, mechanics, team members, race officials, track workers and even journalists have been treated in one of the Clinica Mobile’s two, million-dollar, mobile hospitals. Funding for the Clinica Mobile comes from a variety of sources including Dorna, IRTA, racers, private donations and the sales of Dr. Costa’s autobiography “Doctor Costa.” For more information on the Mobile Clinica or to find out how to donate, e-mail [email protected].