Today’s MotoGP practice at Phillip Island saw several riders crash out including Pramac Ducati’s Niccolò Canepa.
The Italian rookie crashed at turn one while he was going over 200 km/h and slid across the track burning his right elbow and gashing open his forearm.
Treated at the Clinica Mobile, the rider was then sent to a Melbourne Hospital to check out if their are any tendon or nerve damages and have further treatment on his open cut.
If the large cut cannot be sutured properly Canepa will have to undergo a skin transplant that will rule him out of Sunday’s race.
Canepa, who is currently 16th in the standings with 38 points will be replaced by Aleix Espargaro next season, has been linked to rides in the new Moto2 series and in the World Superbike championship.