MotoGP – Phillip Island Day 1 – Niccolò Canepa in hospital

Unlucky day for Niccolò Canepa and the Pramac Racing Team. The Italian rider crashed during this afternoon's free session on the Phillip Island track at turn one when he was going at over 200 km/h, burning his right elbow. Transported to the mobile clinic, the severity of the injury was perceived and the decision was made to transport him to Melbourne hospital to clean the large wound as best as possible and assess whether the nerves and tendons had been damaged. Only after the operation will it be possible to evaluate whether Niccolò will be able to take to the track on Sunday. His teammate, Mika Kallio, instead finished with the ninth best time of the day after constant improvement in the sixty minutes of testing. Tomorrow another two hours available for the Finnish driver with the qualifying session which will start at 14.00 pm local time.

Fabiano Sterlacchini – Technical Director Pramac Racing Team

“We are really sorry about what happened to Niccolò today: we are waiting for the outcome of the operation, where they should give him a skin transplant to close the wound, and we will evaluate what to do. My only advice to Niccolò is that he must not rush in these moments but stay calm and evaluate the injury situation carefully. The team is close to them. Mika, on the other side of the garage, did quite well today with some very interesting times. We compared the data with Stoner's and saw that he has to modify some trajectories. If he succeeds tomorrow we can make a big leap forward."

Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team rider – 9th best time – 1'32.572

“We are satisfied with the work done today, it's just a shame about the small crash that made us lose some time. I went wide at the fourth corner and when I was on the grass while trying to get back onto the track I found a puddle and I couldn't do anything else. Back in the pits I got on the second bike and we started making some changes. My feeling is good and starting with a top ten on Friday is always positive. Tomorrow with some adjustments we can be even more competitive.”

Niccolò Canepa – Pramac Racing Team rider

“I fell when I was in fourth gear at over 200km/h and while I was sliding on the asphalt my suit was completely worn out and so I burned the skin of my right elbow deeply. I feel pain from my shoulder to my hand but after the first tests it seems that nothing is broken. However, we have to go to the Melbourne hospital to clean the large cut and disinfect it as best we can. Only then will we be able to understand whether a skin transplant will be necessary. For Sunday's race we will only know something more at the end of the operation."

Pramac Racing