Spain’s Marc Marquez falls from his Honda during a free practice session ahead of the Italian MotoGP at Mugello’s circuit yesterday. (AFP)
Agencies/Mugello (Italy)
Spaniard Marc Marquez escaped serious injury after crashing at 175mph in practice as world champion Jorge Lorenzo topped the timesheets at Mugello MotoGP.
Marquez, 20, lost control of his Repsol Honda at the end of Mugello’s long straight and slid down the grass verge
The 20-year-old rookie, who is the only rider yet to finish off the podium this season, first suffered small incident at Turns 4 and 5 during the morning session.
In the afternoon, he posted the fastest speed of the day at 342km/h (212mph). On his next run, the bike become out of shape at 337.9km/h (209.9mph) and seconds later the rider was crawling out of the Turn 1 gravel trap.
After being transported to the circuit Medical Centre by ambulance, he was announced as having escaped with no more than a bruised chin.
“Just after the hill on the straight, I grabbed for the brakes but I (lost) the front,” he explained later in the afternoon, having missed the usual post-session press call.
“I tried to save it but the bike was pulling me towards the wall, so I jumped from the bike to avoid hitting it. I hit my chin hard and strained my neck quite badly; I also have some contusions to my right shoulder, arm and leg, but other than that I’m okay. Thanks to all the medical team that were quickly on the scene to assist me. Now I need to rest and see how I feel later tonight and in the morning,” Marquez said.
“Bearing in mind the crash he had, he is okay,” Team Principal Livio Suppo told motogp.com. “His chin was very swollen but, considering the speed, he has been very lucky…he jumped off the bike to avoid the wall, but the crash was really big.
“In theory there is nothing broken, so it should be possible, but for sure it is better to wait until tomorrow morning to see how he feels.”
Providing the all clear to race is given on today morning, Marquez’s first task will be to move into the top ten of the first three practice sessions in order to head directly to Q2 Qualifying later in the day.
Following the opening two periods on Friday, the Spaniard sits 14th and six tenths of a second away from the required tenth place.