MotoGP
Catalunyan GP: Ducati race notes
Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau had a disastrous day at Catalunya today, both men crashing out in a turn-one multiple pile-up. The crash, which claimed a total of five riders, left Capirossi battered and bruised, with ...
Published: Jun 20, 2006, 12:28 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau had a disastrous day at Catalunya today, both men crashing out in a turn-one multiple pile-up. The crash, which claimed a total of five riders, left Capirossi battered and bruised, with Gibernau suffering concussion and a fractured left collarbone. Marco Melandri, the only other victim of the first-corner melee to sustain injury, suffered concussion and a dislocated shoulder.
Capirossi was taken by helicopter to Catalunya General Hospital, attended by the Clinica Mobile's Dr Mattioli Ruggero. He underwent scans to his chest, to check that the crash hadn't aggravated the injuries he sustained in a crash during last October's Australian GP, and also to his abdomen, because he was struck in that area during today's accident. The Italian then underwent further scans to the left of his chest which had become swollen. None of the scans gave any cause for concern and although Capirossi will remain in hospital overnight for observation, he could be fit for next weekend's Dutch TT at Assen. He sustained no broken bones in the fall.
Gibernau was less lucky. He will need an operation to fix the minor fracture to his left collarbone. Surgeons will replace a plate inserted after an earlier accident with a larger plate, but they will wait 24 hours before the operation, due to his concussion. Gibernau never lost consciousness after the 195kph/121mph accident and was pronounced okay following a brain scan at Barcelona's Dexeus hospital. Unfortunately, the ambulance taking Gibernau to hospital was involved in a minor accident with a bus just 50 metres from the hospital entrance, though he suffered no further injuries in that incident. It is too soon to say when he will be able to race again.
LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP Project leader
"The first corner of any race is always tricky. But the fact that both riders came out of such a big crash without serious injuries is a great testament to the protection offered by the latest riding gear. Unfortunately, this is the worst moment of the season to sustain an injury, with three races over three weekends and another two over the next three weekends. Maybe Loris will be able to race at Assen but we can't be sure when Sete will be ready.
We were unlucky to lose both our riders in the accident. Looking at the lap times, we could have scored some good points today. Our congratulations to Bridgestone who had a much better weekend here than they had here last year, with a fourth-place finish, only 13,4 behind the winner. That proves once again how much they have improved at what was a difficult track for them. Although today was a bad day for us, this fact certainly boosts the team's mood for the remainder of the season."
-ducati-
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Rossi takes Catalunyan GP victory
Next article Catalunyan GP: Michelin race report
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Marco Melandri
Melandri steps down from Barni Ducati WSBK ride
World Superbike
World Superbike
Melandri steps down from Barni Ducati WSBK ride
“Regenerated” Melandri back in WSBK with Barni Ducati
World Superbike
World Superbike
“Regenerated” Melandri back in WSBK with Barni Ducati
Davies ill-suited to Ducati V4, says Melandri
World Superbike
World Superbike
Davies ill-suited to Ducati V4, says Melandri
Latest news
MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix: Marc Marquez wins thrilling sprint as Jorge Martin fights to third
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
14 min
MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix: Marc Marquez wins thrilling sprint as Jorge Martin fights to third
Fred Vasseur personally contributed $1m to Esteban Ocon’s first F1 drive
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
22 min
Fred Vasseur personally contributed $1m to Esteban Ocon’s first F1 drive
Kaden Honeycutt may someday be great but Scott Zipadelli is the GOAT
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
43 min
Kaden Honeycutt may someday be great but Scott Zipadelli is the GOAT
Dale Earnhardt Jr. reveals his hopes for future NASCAR O'Reilly car platform
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Dale Earnhardt Jr. reveals his hopes for future NASCAR O'Reilly car platform
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe