David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team) currently leads the EVO class with a 37 points gap over Italian Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Team Ducati), despite having struggled throughout the season from a painful hand injury. Given the long break between the US Round and the upcoming event at Jerez (September 5-7) the Spaniard has decided to do something about it.
 
WorldSBK.com talked to the Spanish rider just after undergoing surgery: "I was carrying for some months a right hand injury I suffered whilst doing motocross that concerned fingers and ligaments, which was making the riding much harder for me. I also had a screw in the scaphoid that was not weld properly, again from a previous injury, and it had to be completely rebuilt. The scaphoid has a graft on the part where there was no bone and they have also removed two screws that were a little loose on the knuckle. Dr Mir also removed some adhesions that did not allow a full mobility of the hand. "

This operation was initially planned to be performed after the season finale: "The decision has been taken considering how the season is progressing. Right now we have an advantage of 37 points over Canepa and we’ll try to perform at the highest level for the last four rounds of the season, trying to minimize the hand issue. We did not want to wait until the end of the season because our gap allows us to lose some points at Jerez if I’m not fully recovered or still have some pain that prevents me from scoring any. I can relax this week, but next we’ll be working very hard to regain my hand to 100%. I think we can still perform at the same level that we have already done so far."

"At the start, we planned the surgery in a different way, but later doctors decided to change our strategy", ended the Spaniard. "At first they thought the situation was different in the many damaged parts of my hand. Rehabilitation period was estimated at eight weeks and we have planned to reduce it to six. After the changes we do not really know how long it will really take. Considering the work I’ll do with my physiotherapist, I think I can get in good shape for Jerez."