Petrucci withdraws from Qatar MotoGP

Danilo Petrucci has been forced to withdraw from the remainder of the season-opening Qatar MotoGP after re-damaging his healing hand.

The Italian suffered multiple fractures in his right hand during a testing fall at Phillip Island last month, but travelled to Losail to try and ride.

Initial results were promising, but Petrucci was left in pain at the end of FP3, with an X-ray showing a dislocated bone segment of the third metacarpal. Meaning some of fractures that had been sealed by surgery have re-opened under the stress of riding.

The problem will force Petrucci to miss Sunday's opening race and he may yet require a second round of surgery.