Bagnaia KO at Lusail: fractures to right foot and out of the Qatar GP

Francesco Bagnaia ends his Qatar weekend early. The crash in the Lusail Sprint, coming on the first lap after contact with Fermín Aldeguer at turn 16, rules him out for the rest of the weekend. The short race is stopped with the red flag while the Ducati rider is taken off the track and accompanied to the circuit medical centre.

The picture becomes clear shortly afterwards. MotoGP.com confirms that the two-time world champion will not take the start on Sunday, after a weekend that had seemed promising up to that point. The impact with Aldeguer, which came on the rear of the Ducati, sent Bagnaia into the air before the heavy landing on the Lusail asphalt.

The checks

Angel Charte, MotoGP medical director, explained to Moto.it: «The first medical checks carried out on Francesco Bagnaia at the Lusail medical centre revealed two fractures to his right foot». The report concerns the fourth and fifth metatarsals, identified after the first assessment in the track medical centre.

After the initial examinations, Bagnaia was taken to Doha hospital for further checks. It will be up to the medical staff to assess whether the fractures require surgery. Moto.it, citing Sky, also reports that the rider will have to return to Italy to undergo an operation.

The contact on track

The incident remains linked to Aldeguer’s attempted overtake, which he is unable to complete and which hits Bagnaia’s Ducati. After the impact, the Sprint is interrupted and the Ducati team in the pits follows the first updates with concern, which at least bring a sigh of relief about the rider’s overall condition.

Aldeguer himself, speaking to Moto.it, apologised for what happened: «I apologise to Pecco and Ducati». For Bagnaia, however, the Qatar weekend ends there: no action on Sunday and new checks before understanding the recovery time.