Régis Laconi – Where is He Now?
Two years ago this month the racing community and fans alike were horrified to learn that DFX Ducati rider, Régis Laconi, was seriously injured in a first lap crash in the opening practice session of the Kyalami round of the 2009 World Superbike Championship. Laconi suffered a severe trauma to the cervical vertebrae, was helicoptered to a nearby hospital and put into a pharmacologically induced coma.
Miraculously although he broke his C3 and C5 vertebrae, a CT scan revealed no neurological damage. He was operated on the Tuesday after the race meeting and reports were that it went well.
A CT scan has revealed no apparent neurological damage although the surgical team did explain that they removed a fragment of bone during the operation that was lodged closed to the spinal column.
link: Régis Laconi’s Operation Deemed a Success | Ducati News Today
In the days after the horrific crash it came out that datalogging equipment indicated that Laconi was traveling about 12mph faster than other Ducati riders just before his crash. Following surgery, he was able to have short conversations and had full use of his limbs.
Laconi returned to Aix-en-Provence, France and began his long convalescence at home. Although there were rumors that Régis was going to retire, at first he seemed intent on returning to racing and began training in earnest. Lorenzo Lanzi took his seat on the DFX Ducati for the remainder of the 2009 season.
5 months after his near fatal crash, he did return to the race track but only for demonstration purposes at his home circuit of Magny Cours.
The DFX Ducati 1098R Superbike completed 3 laps of the circuit and received a standing ovation from his home crowd. He expressed his thanks to the team and those who went through the terrible experience with him in South Africa.
link: Régis Laconi Back on a Ducati at Magny Cours | Ducati News Today
Still intent on a comeback with a plan to ride at Portimao for October tests, it turned out not to be. DFX Ducati signed Lanzi for the 2010 season when it became clear that Laconi was not ready to return and his racing career appeared to be over.
At the recent 2011 Jerez MotoGP round, he was seen in his role of commentator and apparently also does some work for Shark helmets in France.
Regis Laconi appeared at Jerez with shaved head and trimmed beard. He slipped into the press conference so quietly on Thursday that he barely attracted a glance from any of the regular journos who reported on him during his 500cc racing years. His role was to commentate on the MotoGP sessions for French Eurosport.
link: Inside Line
Régis Laconi was one of the rare group of riders to win races in both MotoGP (500 GP) and World Superbikes (just failing to win the title in 2004). He was a fierce competitor on the track and although his presence on the track is missed, we are thankful that he cheated death or serious disability that day 2 years ago in South Africa.
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