Qatar test: Dani Pedrosa injured in night crash

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa is facing a fight to be fit for the final pre-season test in Jerez later this month after he suffered left wrist and knee injuries on the second night of testing in Qatar.

Pedrosa was lying eighth quickest on the timesheets with a best time of 1.58.619 after 28 laps when he crashed his Repsol Honda RC212V machine on the entry to turn 10 – a medium speed left-hander before the series of three fast rights at the Qatar track. The left side of his V4 was badly damaged after Pedrosa high-side on a cold and windy second night of action in the Middle East. Pedrosa was struck by his bike as he careered down the track. 

The session was immediately red flagged as Pedrosa lay stricken on the track, and he was taken by ambulance to the circuit medical centre for a detailed examination of his injuries.

He arrived at the medical centre with an oxygen mask on with his left arm in a protective brace.
A Repsol Honda spokesman told MCN: “The X-rays showed no clear sign of a break in his left wrist, but he is in a lot of pain. He hit the arm quite hard on the ground. The doctors want him to have a scan on the wrist to check in close detail that there is not damage or a cracked bone.”

Pedrosa, who finished third in last year’s MotoGP world championship, also aggravated an old injury on his left knee. He recently had to miss the final day of the opening winter test in Sepang because of the pain from knee surgery he underwent in December.

He has aggravated that old knee injury, which he first damaged in a first lap crash during last year’s Australian GP at Phillip Island, and needed three stitches to close an open wound.

The latest injury blow for Pedrosa means it is the second year in succession that his pre-season preparations have been marred by injury.

He missed the majority of the build up to the 2008 campaign when he broke a hand on the opening day of testing. And his world title hopes were ended last July when he broke his left hand when crashing out of the lead of a rain-lashed German GP at the Sachsenring.

At the time he was leading the world championship race ahead of 2007 world champion Casey Stoner and Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi.

Pedrosa was due to fly back to Spain for scans on his wrist after doctors immobilised his left arm ahead of the flight back to Barcelona.