Feel Racing WorldSSP Team's, Philipp Oettl, has been sidelined for the season opener at Phillip Island.
A return to World Supersport in 2025 for Philipp Oettl has not started how it was supposed to as he has been declared unfit for Round One.
The German rider has joined the Feel Racing WorldSSP Team for the 2025 season after three years in World Superbikes. However, his return to the class has been halted by a knee injury that he sustained in the Phillip Island Test.
Oettl had been a front-runner throughout pre-season and looked set to challenge for the title. But he will be behind his title rivals when he returns for Round Two at Portimao in a month.
"Bad news," Oettl said on social media.
"After a good first day on Phillip Island, I crashed in the first run of the second day. Not a big crash, but the bike hit me and twisted my knee.
"The knee is damaged and I can't sit on the bike. As a result of the crash, I am declared unfit for the first race.
"I am really disappointed. We will be back in Portimao."
On the opening day of the 2025 World Supersport season, it was MV Agusta's Bo Bendsneyder who claimed pole position. The Dutch rider has been Oettl's main contender throughout pre-season and could gain a large advantage over the German ahead of Round Two.
