The clock may have struck midnight on Max Nagl’s Cinderella MXGP Championship run. Nagl will miss the MXGP of Sweden this weekend, and the proceeding round in Latvia, following surgery on an ankle injury sustained at the MXGP of Germany on June 21.
Nagl, who lost his championship points lead to Romain Febvre after missing his home GP, tried to ride this week but has decided the extreme levels of discomfort were too much and has pulled the plug on a return this weekend. The team hopes to have him back at the GP of Czech Republic on July 26.
“Words can’t describe just how disappointed I am about my MXGP championship campaign,” Nagl said in a team statement. “But as everyone knows in motorsports injuries can quickly change things. I am working hard so that when I return I will be able to give a strong end to the season.”
The injury is just the latest to strike MXGP championship contenders, as Ryan Villopoto, Clement Desalle and Antonio Cairoli have all missed rounds or been hampered with injury.
Nagl, winner of five motos thus far in the FIM World Motocross Championship, currently trails MXGP rookie, and current points leader, Romain Febvre by nine entering the weekend. Febvre holds a seventeen-point lead over third place Cairoli.
Husqvarna has also announced that Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Aleksandr Tonkov will miss the remainder of the season following shoulder surgery. Tonkov sustained the injury at the MXGP of Germany.
“It’s so disappointing to know that I’m out for the rest of 2015," he said in a statement. "I will do all I can to recover as quickly as I can but I can’t push things too fast. Thanks to all my fans.”
