Enea Bastianini, the Tech3 KTM rider, recently revealed that his unexpected withdrawal from the German MotoGP was due to severe food poisoning rather than appendicitis, as initially reported. The incident forced him to be hospitalized briefly after contracting a bacterial infection from eating chicken.
Details of the Illness and Its Impact on Bastianini
The illness was so severe that medical staff first suspected appendicitis because of significant inflammation. However, tests eventually ruled it out. Bastianini explained,
“I had a lot of inflammation, but then the tests ruled it out.”
He confirmed the cause was a bacteria called campylobacter, which he contracted from chicken, jokingly saying, “A chicken ruined my weekend!”
The condition resulted in Bastianini losing more than three kilograms after going three days without food or drink, severely hampering his physical condition. Despite these setbacks, he returned to racing the following weekend but admitted he was not at full strength.
“In MotoGP, you have to be 100% and I don’t think I am,”
he said, noting his attempts to train before arriving at Brno.
Outlook for the Upcoming Races and Team Updates
Bastianini acknowledged that Sunday’s race would be especially challenging due to the weight loss he sustained.
“Sunday’s race will probably be the hardest part. The biggest problem is the weight loss. I did a kind of reset,”
he stated. Still, he remained cautiously optimistic about his performance, adding,
“I don’t know how my body will react, but I think I can do the whole Grand Prix.”
While Bastianini prepares to compete at Brno, his teammate Maverick Viñales will miss the race due to a shoulder injury sustained at Sachsenring. KTM test rider Pol Espargaro will replace Viñales for this round, further impacting the team’s lineup in the MotoGP series.
