Catalunya MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo ruled out of MotoGP race

Jorge Lorenzo is out of this weekend’s Catalunya GP after suffering concussion in a heavy crash during today’s second free practice session.

The Fiat Yamaha rider high-sided at the penultimate corner on only his fifth lap of the afternoon session.

While he suffered no aggravation to the recovering broken ankles he injured in Shanghai last month, Lorenzo’s concussion has definitely ruled him out of Sunday’s 25-lap race.

Since his spectacular high-side in China, Lorenzo has endured a crash strewn period, crashing his YZR-M1 twice in Le Mans and he also crashed out of last weekend’s Italian GP in Mugello.

He was stretchered away from trackside after failing to get to his feet, and after initial medical checks at the circuit, he was transferred to a Barcelona hospital for further scans.

Lorenzo’s absence from Sunday’s seventh race effectively ends his MotoGP world title aspirations. He was already trailing series leader Valentino Rossi by 28-points, though he will be fit to return to action for Donington Park’s British GP on June 22.

Doctor Xavier Mir of the University Institut Dexeus in Barcelona said: “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.

“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.

“He sustained an injury to the fourth and fifth 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.”

Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha team boss Daniele Romagnoli 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.”