Jerez MotoGP: Nicky Hayden walks away from massive crash

American Nicky Hayden was fortunate to escape injury after he was involved in a high-speed crash during the final practice session in Jerez this morning.

The 2006 world champion was lying in fourth place on the timesheets when he lost control of his factory Ducati GP10 at the fast left-hand immediately after the Curva Dry Sack.

Hayden rolled through the gravel trap several times but luckily he was able to get to his feet and walk unaided to the trackside service road before making his way back to the pits. 

The Kentucky rider, who had been a promising third quickest yesterday, ended the session in eighth place with a best time of 1.40.246. That was over a second adrift of Jorge Lorenzo in first place as the Spaniard dominated.

Lorenzo’s best time bettered Casey Stoner’s quickest time from yesterday by 0.7s as the Fiat Yamaha rider beat compatriot Dani Pedrosa by a massive 0.460s.Stoner, who crashed yesterday at the end of the opening practice session, finished third with a best lap of 1.39.719.

Valentino Rossi’s tough weekend continued as he finished fifth again this morning.

Still troubled by the damaged right shoulder he suffered in a recent motocross training accident, the 31-year-old clocked a best time of 1.39.982 to finish 0.893s behind team-mate Lorenzo.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Ben Spies continued his impressive form on a track he only rode for the first time yesterday.

The Texan finished with a best time of 1.40.012 to finish sixth as the 25-year-old slashed a massive 1.2s off his best time from yesterday.

Randy de Puniet finished in seventh place despite the French rider suffering a small crash on his LCR Honda when he lost the front-end at the Curva Peluqui right-hander with 25 minutes remaining.