MotoGP news

Lorenzo to miss home Grand Prix

Jorge Lorenzo is unable to continue racing at his home Grand Prix his team confirmed on Friday evening. The Spaniard lost the front of his M1 at turn 11 just four laps into the afternoon session and slid into the gravel, before being stretchered off and taken to the circuit clinic.

After undergoing an initial check-up at the track, which confirmed that there were no further injuries to the ankles which he fractured in China, the decision was made to take him to hospital in Barcelona for further examination.

Doctor Xavier Mir of the University Institut Dexeus in Barcelona commented: "I can confirm that Lorenzo will not be able to compete this weekend after the tests done here at the Institut Dexeus have confirmed the following injuries:

1. He suffered head trauma and lost consciousness. We made a neurological examination with a CAT scan and an MRI scan and from this we can confirm that there is no cranial haemotoma or haemorrage. However, he now needs to stay under observation for between 48 and 72 hours to see how this develops.
2. He sustained an injury to the 4th and 5th finger on the right hand, where he has lost some skin. He also has an abrasion of the extensor tendon. We need to see how this develops but it could be possible that he needs a small skin graft.
3. Various other bruises and grazes."

Yamaha's team manager Daniele Romagnoli was obviously disappointed to hear Lorenzo is unable to race this weekend. He said: "Unfortunately today Jorge suffered another crash and it's clear that the luck is not with him at the moment. This morning we had a good session and things were going very well, we'd found a good base set up from which to work and we were quite happy with our progress.

"Then this afternoon started well but sadly after four laps we had another crash when Jorge lost the front at turn 11. He was going 130 km so it was quite a fast crash, but we checked the data and we can't see that he made any particular mistake. We were trying some different tyres and bike setting from the morning and we were feeling quite happy about how things were going so it's a great pity.

"Luckily he's avoided any further injury to his ankles, but the head injury means that he must undergo a period of rest and not take any further risks. We are very disappointed for Jorge, but the important thing now is that he has some rest and takes time to recover properly."

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