Monday, 28 April: World Champion Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq has confirmed that he will be forced to miss the Grand Prix of Italy in Milan, 6-8 June.

The defending Runabout GP1 Champion has revealed that tomorrow he will undergo minor surgery on his nose to try to resolve some breathing issues he has had when racing, and will then head to the USA to have check-ups for disc-related back problems. “The operation is something that needs to be done.  It is not too serious but it will take time to recover,” he said. “And if I am not 100% fit I will not participate.”

The news is another body blow to the Kuwaiti star’s hopes of a successful title defence following his shocker in the season-opener in Qatar in March, where he failed to pick up points after being black-flagged in race 1 and breaking down in race 2 after a storming ride from the back of the pack up to third, before his engine let go.

Qatar GP winner Cyrille Lemoine leads the title race on 45 points from countryman Teddy Pons, the French duo grabbing a win apiece in Doha, Lemoine’s second in race 2 over Pons’ fourth in race 1 giving him a slender seven point advantage.