MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS SOAP OPERA: DAVID PHILIPPAERTS DROPS OUT OF MXDN; TEAM ITALY LOSES 2008 WORLD CHAMP

David will be on the sidelines at Lakewood.

Yamaha’s David Philippaerts will be unable to contest the 64th Motocross of Nations for Italy at Thunder Valley, Lakewood, Colorado, on September 26th. David suffered a second-degree strain of the media lateral ligament in his right knee at the final GP of the year last weekend. A scan revealed the damage will not require an operation, but needs to be rested for 20 days before he can begin light cycling and running.
 
David Philippaerts said, “This is the last thing I wanted to happen because the news at Fermo that we could go and race for our country was fantastic for us and all the fans. I’m lucky that the injury is not a third-degree tear because that would mean surgery. However, I cannot ride nor do anything for nearly three weeks now; if the ligament has any more stress then it might go completely and that would put me out for quite a while.”