In light of Quartararo’s second arm pump surgery in three years, we delve into the issue faced by a lot of MotoGP riders a little further.
It’s the most common issue faced by many modern motorcycle racers. Last weekend we saw Fabio Quartararo’s Spanish GP dramatically unravel because of it, and its onset is something that can’t really be explained.
The Frenchman had no issues throughout the weekend, then all of a sudden on Sunday, the dreaded arm pump returned and the rider had to undergo surgery for the second time in three years.
What is arm pump?
Arm pump, technically known as Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome is an exercise-induced muscle and nerve condition that causes pain, swelling and sometimes disability in the affected muscles of the forearms.
Anyone can develop the condition, but it’s more common in young runners and athletes who participate in activities that involve repetitive impact.’ MotoGP riders, of course, fit perfectly into that bracket.
Muscles expand in volume under exercise and for riders across all classes, the forearms are heavily worked throughout a race or practice session, especially under braking.
Arm pump happens when the tissue that encases the muscle, the fascia, doesn’t expand with the muscle. This causes severe pressure and pain, explaining why Quartararo was lapping a couple of seconds slower than his potential in the closing stages of Jerez MotoGP.
From the onboard camera you could tell the rider was visibly in pain on the cool-down lap. El Diablo has since undergone surgery to fix the issue that has lingered since his rookie season in 2019.
Several MotoGP riders struggle with arm pump syndrome
Asked why some MotoGP riders suffer arm pump syndrome and some don’t – for example nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi has never struggled with the issue in his 26-year career – Fabio Quartararo didn’t have an answer, and explained how 2020 saw very limited issues apart from Portimao.
“I don’t know, honestly,” Quartararo said. “Honestly, last year Portimao was perfect, zero problems. 25 laps I was feeling good, I was no even a small pain and this year was the total opposite.
“I had to brake with four fingers and normally I brake with one. I couldn’t go full gas on the straight. Apart from the last lap to try to take those few points that can maybe help at the end of the season. But no explanation. I’m training the same, I’m feeling even better on the bike and… I don’t know.”
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Jerez race winner Jack Miller also underwent surgery for the same issue in April, just after the Qatar MotoGP.
“It was quite clear after the scans that there was a lot of pressure in my right arm. On Tuesday (after Doha) we got it done, I was straight out of hospital on Wednesday morning,” said Miller ahead of Portimao.
Iker Lecuona has also undergone arm pump surgery this year, he too in between the Doha and Portuguese GPs.
Reigning World Champion Joan Mir admitted that he has been suffering from a little bit of arm pump on tracks that are quite demanding.
“I have a little bit of arm pump. A little bit,“ Mir said. “When I try to over push, 25 laps here in Jerez, accelerating, braking, always this is difficult, it’s really difficult. It’s important to manage well also this situation.
“I cannot say more because I don’t have that problem. If I had that problem I’d be more on form. I have it at tracks like this which are quite demanding. This was not the 1st time that it happened to Fabio, right?”
Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro is another rider who has confirmed he’s been suffering from the issue and could be the fourth MotoGP rider to undergo surgery for the same in 2021.
“The last laps of the race I suffered a little bit of right arm pump. I had no strength to brake hard. I suffer a lot on the right arm, so I lose a little bit of performance on the brakes,” said Espargaro.
“I don’t think it’s Jerez. I think the MotoGP’s are every time faster, faster, faster. More downforce and more aerodynamics and more power. We are not machines like the bikes. We are humans. So I don’t know how we can improve.
“I love the fitness. I love to train. I love to try different, new things to be more in shape, but I don’t know what we can do to train this. I did operate more than ten years ago, but now I was talking with the doctor and maybe I have to do it again.“
Miguel Oliveira spoke about having severe arm pump during his first Moto2 campaign in 2016, and the Portuguese star reiterates the point that there isn’t a lot riders can do about preventing the issue.
“I don’t know. I’ve had arm pump issues in the past“ Oliveira said. “My first year of Moto2, I couldn’t ride, I was just a passenger basically every race, every race track.
“So I got the arm pump surgery at the end of that season, and immediately when I jumped back on the bike I felt the difference. It’s a very limiting factor to have arm pump, I don’t know if there is anything really we can do about it.“
