MOTOGP: Baz return postponed until after Assen

Injured Avintia Ducati MotoGP rider Loris Baz has had to postpone his return and will be replaced by Michele Pirro again in the Dutch TT at Assen next weekend.

Baz suffered a broken right foot in a first-lap tangle with Jack Miller and Alvaro Bautista at Mugello and had to sit out the following Barcelona race as a result.

He had initially hoped to be back for Assen but a further operation to remove the nails used to fix the injury is scheduled for the Thursday leading into the race weekend, ruling him out.

"To be honest, from the very first moment the doctors told me that being ready for Assen would be really difficult," Baz admitted. "I tried my best from the beginning, but I'll have to wait until next Thursday to remove some metal I have in my foot, and it will be impossible to ride the bike on Friday."

Baz is now aiming to make his comeback at the Sachsenring in mid-July.

Factory Ducati test rider Pirro, who scored a point for 15th at Barcelona, will remain on loan to Avintia for Assen in his place.

Originally on Autosport.com