Luca Marini will miss Sunday’s Indian MotoGP Grand Prix event after sustaining a fractured collarbone as a result of his clash with VR46 Ducati team-mate Marco Bezzecchi in the sprint.
The Italian made a good start from fourth on the grid at the start of Saturday’s 11-lap sprint outing as he looked to try and take advantage of a slow-starting Bezzecchi on entry to the opening bend.
He was clipped by an unsighted Bezzecchi as he turned in for the corner though, Marini’s front wheel then folding as a result of the touch which in turn fired him off into the gravel and early retirement. Bezzecchi continued after running through the gravel, ultimately fighting back after dropping to 18th to finish fifth.
Marini was slapped with a long-lap punishment for his part in the incident, which he will be forced to serve at the next race he is able to participate in.
It was subsequently found following a trip to the medical center following his incident though that Marini had suffered a fractured collarbone in the crash, forcing him to miss Sunday’s full-length Indian GP and putting him in doubt for next weekend’s Japanese GP at the Motegi venue. He has since traveled to the hospital for further checks.
Marini thus joins Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez on the sidelines after the Spaniard broke several ribs after going down heavily at Turn 5 during qualifying, Marquez also set to miss the Japanese event as a consequence of his injuries.
The absence of Marini and Marquez on Sunday means 20 riders are scheduled to take the start of MotoGP’s maiden Indian GP event, staged at the Buddh International Circuit.
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