Marc VDS MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli will sit out the remainder of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend after breaking his hand in a crash at Turn 7 during FP3.
Morbidelli suffered a fast off at Turn 7 20 minutes into the third session, and was taken to the circuit medical centre for precautionary checks having initially gotten to his feet.
Examination by circuit doctors revealed the Italian had suffered a fracture on the third metacarpal of his left hand, and has been declared unfit to continue.
The Italian currently sits 16th in the points table having finished all bar one race in his rookie campaign inside the top 15, and currently holds top newcomer honours, with LCR Honda's Takaaki Nakagami the next-best debutant in 19th.
Morbidelli is currently at the centre of speculation regarding the potentially incoming Petronas Yamaha team, with the Italian expected to join the satellite squad alongside outgoing Honda man Dani Pedrosa.
The Petronas team is expected to take over the place of the Nieto team, while Morbidelli's current Marc VDS squad will withdraw from MotoGP due to ongoing internal troubles.
Championship leader Marc Marquez heads into this afternoon's qualifying fastest of all, after beating Maverick Vinales by just 0.001 seconds in FP3 on Saturday morning. Morbidelli was 20th at the end of practice.
