Iker Lecuona will be forced to miss this weekend’s European Grand Prix at Valencia after his brother tested positive for Covid-19.
The Tech 3 racer will be forced to enter isolation for ten days as a result due to home region Andorra’s legislation, allowing him the opportunity to potentially re-join the fray for the second Valencia outing next weekend if he can maintain negative status next week.
Team Manager Herve Poncharal confirmed that Lecuona would not be replaced for this weekend’s encounter, with the French squad instead deciding to focus on sole remaining rider Miguel Oliveira.
“We are very sad to announce that Iker Lecuona won’t be participating in the Gran Premio de Europa this weekend,” said Poncharal in a statement from Tech 3.
“So far, he’s been tested negative, but his brother who is also his assistant, is positive and therefore the Andorran authorities have called him ‘contact case’.
“He will have another test today, but even if it’s negative again, he’s got to stay in quarantine without moving from his home in Andorra for 10 days.
“The plan is to have another test next Wednesday and if this one is negative as well, he will be able to travel to Valencia and participate in Valencia II.
“Of course, he won’t be replaced for this event, therefore the whole Red Bull KTM Tech3 team will concentrate on our sole rider, Miguel Oliveira.”
Lecuona has undergone a tricky debut premier class campaign with Tech 3 KTM so far in 2020, the Spaniard suffering four retirements-including in the opening three races of the campaign-though he has secured three top ten results to date.
His personal bests so far are a pair of ninths at the Austrian GP and the Alcaniz GP last time out, while a total points score of 27 currently leaves him 17th in the riders standings with three races remaining.
