MotoGP championship leader Francesco Bagnaia appears to have just suffered “contusions” after his devastating Catalunya crash, while Ducati has revealed that teammate Enea Bastianini suffered fractures to his arm and leg.
Factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia suffered a significant high-side as he was coming out Turn 2 while leading on the opening lap of the Catalan Grand Prix. However, after landing off his Ducati, he was struck in the legs by Brad Binder’s KTM.
Bagnaia was transferred to the hospital in Barcelona after being examined at the medical center, but according to the initial findings of MotoGP medical director Angel Charte, there was no major injury.
According to a new statement from Bagnaia’s Ducati team, the 2022 champion sustained ‘multiple contusions’, but additional medical checks have shown no fractures.
The left leg injury to Bastianini was reported to be a non-displaced fracture of the medial malleolus, a tiny bone at the end of the tibia, and the left hand injury is a fracture of the second metacarpal’s ‘neck.’
His hand and leg are currently in casts, and surgery will be carried out to heal both fractures.
After the start, Bastianini was approaching Turn 1 from the extreme inside line and collided with Johann Zarco as he was leaning in for the turn, entering the braking zone. This crash additionally eliminated Alex Marquez, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Marco Bezzecchi.
The Gresini duo of Marquez and Di Giannantonio recovered to place in the top 10 after making the restart, but Bezzecchi was particularly affected, stumbling down to 12th and announcing later that he will undergo a medical examination on Monday to assess the extent of hand injury.
Bastianini was given a long-lap penalty, and since he skipped the restart and was unable to serve it, he will now have to do so in the series’ next grand prix he enters.
It seems highly improbable that the penalty will be featured in the Misano next round.
However, Bagnaia needs to put Misano into consideration, even if it is the weekend right after Barcelona, as Ducati confirmed he was going to be traveling to Italy on Sunday night.
