A complicated winter is coming to an end for Sandro Cortese. The German rider is actually still recovering from the serious injury he sustained last August when in Portimao he broke a vertebra and a shin in the event of a collision first with the Mercado and then with the guard rails of the Portuguese route. But now the worst seems to be over.
“I had a tough end to last year, with many months in recovery and rehabilitation – said Cortese on the official World SBK website – also earlier this year. I couldn’t do a lot of sport, but now I can always exercise more. I have yet to have another operation to take out the plates, possibly in April. I had a check-up in December and everything looks fine, but I wasn’t 100% recovered. Doctors said I have to come back in late February or early March and then we can make an appointment for the operation to remove the plates. The plate doesn’t hurt, but it can be uncomfortable in some positions. “
Cortese is therefore aiming for a full recovery, even if it will be very difficult to see him in the World Cup this season.
“If you look at the race, it’s going to be very difficult to drive this year; all good places are taken and now I will focus on my full recovery and see what the future holds. I am very grateful that I am still alive walk normally and enjoy normal life again. Naturally, I really miss the race and I wish everything had turned out differently, but when you have such a difficult time and a big accident you’re just grateful to be back to normal. I was about to be in a wheelchair and recognizing that made me forget other things. “
So luck in misfortune, even if the dream of competing at a high level again still exists for the 2012 Moto3 and Supersport world champion.
“My wish is to get back on the bike with a competitive team. I’m 31, not too old to race. So if I come back with a competitive team with competitive machines, then I’ll do it. I’m not the type of driver who just “is there” in the paddock. when I come back, I want to be right at the front and fight for top positions. The race is very fast, one minute you have nothing and the next you get a chance that you didn’t expect. My goal is to get 100% fit again and when the opportunity presents itself, I will take it. “
In any case, Sandro appears to have found strong support from loved ones during the injury.
“The most important people around me were my girlfriend, family and friends; We talked mostly every day when I had the lows. They were with me every moment. Very soon, I realized that I don’t have to get upset about what happened. When I was in the hospital and seeing what the end result could have been, like being in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, I took the positives out of my situation. I’ve had a chance to get fit again, to run again, and to do the things I love again in the near future. When I talked to my family, they just said I should be grateful. “