Jorge Lorenzo has decided to sit out the remainder of the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix following his monster highside crash during FP2 on Friday.
Lorenzo came into the inaugural Thailand weekend already nursing injury, after he suffered a broken foot in another highside at Turn 1 at the start of the Aragon Grand Prix – which he sensationally blamed future Honda teammate Marc Marquez for.
The Ducati rider was passed fit to ride at Buriram on Thursday, however, and was running inside the top 10 in FP2 when he suffered a heavy crash at Turn 3 in the latter stages of FP2.
A mechanical issue led to the rear end coming round on Lorenzo and launching him into the air, forcing the session to be stopped briefly while debris and fluid from his stricken GP18 was cleared.
The Spaniard had to be stretchered off track and was taken to the medical centre for checks, before being transferred to Buriram Hospital, where it was initially confirmed he had suffered no new fractures.
Declared fit at the circuit following his crash, Lorenzo admitted his “scary” crash made it unlikely he would continue, but wanted to wait until Saturday morning to assess his fitness.
While initially sustaining no new fractures, a hairline fracture on his left wrist was discovered, while he suffered heavy bruising to his left wrist and right ankle, and announced on Saturday morning prior to FP3 he would take no further part in the Thailand weekend.
Ducati has conducted an investigation into the cause of Lorenzo's accident, but is yet to publicly produce its findings, though has assured there will be no repeat for its other GP18-mounted riders Andrea Dovizioso and Pramac's Danilo Petrucci.
Two weeks now separate Thailand from the start of the triple-header starting in Japan, with Lorenzo admitting it is not clear yet if he will race at Motegi.
Teammate Dovizioso set the pace on Friday after posting a 1:31.090s in FP2, putting him 0.031 seconds clear of the field. Lorenzo was just a second off the pace in 16th despite his crash.
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