German MotoGP: Lorenzo crashes, bends plate in shoulder

World champion Jorge Lorenzo crashed heavily today out of the second free practice session for the German Grand prix at Sachsenring, having set the fastest time of the day in the opening session.

Lorenzo, already riding with a broken and plated collarbone following a heroic Assen race, has damaged the titanium plate inserted into his shoulder last month, and will potentially face further surgery on the joint.

This could see him ruled out of this weekend’s race, leaving his ride to fifth place in Assen only 48hrs after surgery potentially all in vain.

Cal Crutchlow also crashed heavily, losing the front on the Waterfall, a fast downhill right-hander. However, despite the high speed smash destroying his Yamaha M1 he escaped with only bruising.

Stefan Bradl was the fastest rider in the second session, topping the sheets with a 1’22.030 in front of his home crowds, 0.2 ahead of the Repsol Honda pair of Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez.

Lorenzo was fourth in the second session before his crash, ahead of factory Yamaha teamamte Valentino Rossi.

Aleix Espargaro was seventh, splitting the factory Ducatis of Nicky Hayden in sixth and Andrea Dovizioso in eighth.

Alvaro Bautista and Andrea Iannone rounded out the top ten, with Bradley Smith in eleventh. Michael Laverty, having his best Friday sessions in MotoGP so far, finished in 16th. Crutchlow finished the session in 19th.