Immediate medical attention and anxious hours
Immediately after the accident, medical personnel at the track administered first aid for around 45 minutes. The initial report from race control stated that both drivers were conscious. Dettwiler and Rueda were then each taken by helicopter to hospitals in Kuala Lumpur. Rueda was given the all-clear relatively quickly: the Spaniard suffered concussion, bruising, and a broken hand. According to his team, his injuries are not life-threatening, but he is still awaiting surgery on his hand.
Dettwiler’s condition critical – several operations necessary
The situation is much more dramatic for Noah Dettwiler. According to consistent media reports and statements by his father, the 20-year-old Swiss rider, who is competing in his second season in the Moto3 class for the French CIP-KTM team, suffered multiple cardiac arrests, significant blood loss, and severe internal injuries. His spleen and lungs are particularly affected, and Dettwiler also suffered an open fracture to his thigh. According to initial information, his condition has been temporarily stabilized, but the situation remains serious. There is uncertainty about how things will progress; according to those close to him, “it could go either way.” Further operations are planned in the coming hours and days.
Dettwiler’s parents have traveled to Malaysia to be with their son. His team and his mentor Tom Lüthi are also on site. Team officials have asked the public to respect the rider’s privacy. No official statements regarding his condition have been released by the event organizer or the MotoGP organization.
Criticism of the continuation of the race program
The rest of the race day was sharply criticized by many riders and observers. Despite the serious accident and the initially completely unclear situation surrounding Dettwiler and Rueda, the races in all classes continued, with the Moto3 race merely delayed and shortened. Several MotoGP riders expressed their incomprehension at this decision. Francesco Bagnaia explained: “Making the young riders race ten laps in these circumstances, after they’ve seen something like that, where the helicopter had to fly in, is not a good idea. I’ll never be able to understand that.” Other riders also emphasized that it was almost impossible to muster the necessary concentration for a race under these conditions. They demanded to be better and more promptly informed about the condition of seriously injured colleagues in the future.
Dettwiler’s career and outlook
Noah Dettwiler has been competing in the Moto3 World Championship since 2023 and has so far scored one World Championship point for 14th place in the race in Austin (USA) in 2024. The current accident represents a serious setback in his still young career. The motorsport community sends the Swiss rider and his family numerous get-well wishes and hopes for a positive update in the coming days.
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