Former world champion hospitalized in Vegas

0 Sept. 29, 2016, 12:02 p.m.

By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

Though practice and registration for the upcoming IFMAR doesn't begin until Saturday, many race teams and drivers have arrived over the last couple of days to get settled in and enjoy the city - it is Las Vegas, after all!

One international start whose week didn't get off to the best start, however, was 2012 World Champion Robert Batlle. The Spanish Mugen Seiki driver was admitted to the Southern Hills Medical Center yesterday after complaining of abdominal pain, which prompted track co-owner Chris Tocco to recommend visiting the hospital just seven miles down Sunset Rd. Batlle was diagnosed with kidney stones - small, hard mineral deposits that can form in the kidneys and other organs for a wide variety of reasons.

Batlle is expected to make a full recovery and return to the track in time to compete with his MBX7R for another world title. He posted the following to Facebook yesterday around 10 AM CT:

Already in Vegas, sorry to not to write so much here but I had to go to the Southern Hills medical center (thanks rc track las vegas for advice) due to kidney stones.... Worlds doesn't start well for us but I will try to do my best to get well soon! See u there guys!