There is unfortunate news to report today about former MotoAmerica rider and current Only Fans American Racing Team member Joe Roberts. During this past Saturday’s Moto2 Practice 2 session at the Australian Grand Prix in Phillip Island, which was held in adverse weather conditions, Roberts crashed and suffered an injury to his right hand.
After being taken to the track’s medical center for evaluation, an x-ray revealed that he had sustained a fracture to the scaphoid in his right wrist. Roberts was declared unfit for the remainder of the weekend, and the fracture will require surgery.
The scaphoid is one of the carpal bones on the thumb side of the wrist, just above the radius. The bone is important for both motion and stability of the wrist joint. A scaphoid fracture usually occurs when you fall onto an outstretched hand, with your weight landing on your palm.
Today, Joe was scheduled to undergo surgery in Australia to repair the injury. Unlike most other fractures, scaphoid fractures tend to heal slowly, which means Roberts will not be able to participate in the upcoming Moto2 rounds in Thailand and Malaysia.
“We’re obviously sad to see Joe sidelined by this injury, especially after the hard work he’s put in throughout the season,” said Only Fans American Racing Team owner Eitan Butbul. “Joe’s health and recovery are our top priorities, and we’re giving him all the support he needs to come back stronger. We have full confidence in Joe, and we’re looking forward to his return to the track when he’s fully ready.”
Roberts is currently ranked 7th in the 2024 FIM Moto2 World Championship with one race victory on the season.