Dr. Claudio Costa has denied that he will be partially retiring from his commitment with the Clinica Mobile. During a meeting held last night at Imola’s Panathlon Club, Costa refuted this earlier comment: “Up to Marco (Simoncelli), riders who suffered injuries or fractures wanted to ride anyway, and I did everything possible to help them do it. Today it’s different and and if they’re carrying fractures they’ll will stop racing in order to heal, there are no more ‘crazies’ like Marco. Unfortunately I wasn’t at Sepang and can’t exclude that if I spent time with him before the race maybe things would have have had a different outcome. Now there are no more ‘heroes’ and the Clinica Mobile created back in 1976, won’t need me any more.”

Costa not only denied the comment saying it was misconstrued, he also denied that he would be retiriring, “I have no desire to retire and stay away from racing. The statements that have been attributed to me are not true. I said that today most riders prefer longer treatments than in the past and that riders like Troy Bayliss and Marco Simoncelli would have done everything possible to race even if they were injured and that’s why my activity has waned a little.”

Today, fast riders like Lorenzo for example, prefer to sit out races and get treated and I respect that attitude. I’ll continue to follow the riders around the world, as a matter of fact I will follow even more races than ever before as I just signed an agreement with the FIM that will guarantee the presence of the Clinica Mobile for the next 5 years.”

Source | ilrestodelcarlino via motoblog.it

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Dr. Claudio Costa and his Cliniche Mobili have been mainstays in racing world for over thirty years; patching up professional motorcycle riders after their injuries and getting them back on track as fast as possible, but today this very passionate, sensitive and poetic man, who has helped countless riders and improved safety in all its facets, has decided to reduce his commitment to the Clinica Mobile.

Costa isn’t only a medical doctor he was also a guru to the riders and in a touching interview with Romagna Noi, Costa said, “The Clinica Mobile will continue with its work. What’s more difficult today is helping make heroes [he believes that riders symbolize life lived at its fullest and constantly compares them to gods], and without them, the Clinica doesn’t need me anymore. ” adding sadly “today these riders no longer exist.”

“Today science helps the most and my work has become limited. Science promises salvation, but you pay the price with the absence from racing. I was the doctor who put them back into the saddle, obviously with the green light of the medical commissions, riders who even if injured wanted to return to track as fast as possible and today there is less demand for my ‘magic’ that helped them return and continue their ‘fairytale’.”

Costa will reduce the number of hours he dedicates to the Clinica Mobile and asked if the death of Marco Simoncelli had something to do with his decision, the good doctor said “Yes it does. He was one of those riders that kept me busy full time, now I have lost my source of work, that crazy guy kept me busy.”

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Times are really changing for professional racers, some riders like Jorge Lorenzo, have or have had sports psychologists to help them through bad times or if their performances aren’t up to par according to their team, they may get hauled over for some couch time, as Marco Melandri was when he was riding for Ducati in 2008.

The sport is no longer just slinging a leg over a bike and trying to be the best and fastest out there, but has become much deeper and also takes into account emotions, injuries, and even forced retirement as the round table organized by LGS Sport Lab (a company who offers innovative services to the world of sports) during this year’s edition of the Motor Show in Bologna, explored with the help of several top figures of the motorsports world.

Taking part where Lucio Cecchinello, who was a former 125cc class rider and became full time Team Manager in 2004, Doctor Claudio Costa (former orthopedic head physician at Rizzoli Hospital in Bologna and founder of the Clinica Mobile) and Franco Uncini (former rider and MotoGP Safety Commission Responsible) attended the talk show together with Eng. Mazzola (Ferrari F1 consultant), Thomas Biagi (Formula 3000 driver) and the lawyer Italo Giorgio Minguzzi (former University teacher, lawyer and big fan of sports and competitions).

Continue reading: LGS Sport Lab - PsyOps for riders

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Marco Melandri may have been ruled out of Saturday’s Dutch TT MotoGP race at Assen after disclocating his shoulder and slightly fracturing the glenoid scapula in a massive highside during FP2, but the Italian still wants to try take part in tomorrow morning’s warm-up practice.

Speaking to Italia 1, Dr. Claudio Costa informed us Melandri want’s to see if he’s able to ride and the Clinica Mobile will try to perform their overnight black magic and see if they can help put the Gresini rider back in the saddle of his privateer Honda.

Even if Melandri is able to finish the warm-up practice, he will then have to undergo a stringent examination by the Dutch circuit doctors who will put him through a series of physical exercises to see if his shoulder is strong enough to stand the pain and that he’s not a danger to the other riders. The circuit doctors will have the final word on deciding on his fitness and if he can take part in the race.

UPDATE:

After further tests, Melandri has decided not take part in tomorrow’s warm-up, and his slightly fractured glenoid has been now re-diagnosed as a very old fracture from a previous injury. The Italian rider will now undergo physiotherapy to try to return to fitness before the Barcellona GP.

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