Factory Beta rider Ben Watson is likely to be out of MXGP action for rest of the season to have surgery on his right knee, as a result of an injury caused by a crash in the GP in Portugal.

“Unfortunately I’ll be out for a little while.. during moto 2 in Portugal I damaged my knee. I tried my best to continue racing the following 3 GPs, not only for myself but the people around me, but I just cannot continue to race on this level at 50% with an ACL injury,” he said. “After finally being back inside the top 10 of the world championship standings it was a difficult decision to make but I am forced to get my body back to full health now so I can shift my focus to 2025 and be ready for the winter preperations to start. I apologise to Beta, the whole MRT Beta Racing Team and everyone who supports me. I’ll be back.

“I raced the last two GPs (France and Germany) but my knee kept giving me problems, I was in pain and it didn’t allow me to train. Further medical investigations revealed an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament and a meniscus. Keeping up with training or racing would only make the things worse and with the doctors we have decided on surgery, which we are planning for as soon as possible, at the moment we don’t have the date yet. It is likely that the recovery time will not allow me to return to the World Championship this season”.

Elio Marchetti (Team Manager MRT Racing Team Beta) said: “It was obvious that Ben’s troubles over the last few GPs were related to the consequences of the crash in Lugo, and unfortunately it has now turned out that the injury requires an operation. We are next to Ben, we thank him for what he has done so far, and what is important now is that he can get back in shape.”