Moto3 championship leader Jorge Martin has been ruled out of the remainder of the Czech Grand Prix after fracturing his left hand in a crash during FP1.
Martin came into the 10th race weekend of the season seven points clear of Marco Bezzecchi following back-to-back wins at Assen and Germany, on top of the other three he secured earlier in the season.
Towards the end of FP1 at Brno, the Gresini rider was on a succession of session-best laps, but suffered a highside crash at the right-hander of the Schwantz corner.
The Spaniard was seen holding his wrist in as he clambered to his feet, and the Gresini squad have now confirmed he will fly to Barcelona to have surgery on his left wrist.
A team statement vis Twitter read: “Radial fracture of the keft hand for Jorge Martin, who is out of the Brno race. He will now go to Barcelona for surgery. More news to come.”
The resumption of racing at Brno following the summer break is also the first of a European double-header, with the Austrian Grand Prix taking place next weekend.
With such a short time between now and the Red Bull Ring race, Martin's participation is in serious doubt.
German rider Philipp Oettl usurped Martin on the timesheets in the closing seconds, taking over top spot with a 2:09.194s to end the session fastest of all.
Prior to the summer break, Martin was confirmed as stepping up to the Moto2 class next season to join Brad Binder at the Red Bull KTM Ajo team, replacing the MotoGP-bound Miguel Oliveira.
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