Lorenzo ruled out of Dutch MotoGP by injury

Jorge Lorenzo will miss the Dutch TT MotoGP round for Repsol Honda following his heavy opening practice crash.

The Spanish rider suffered a low-side off midway through FP1 at Assen, going down at Turn 7, and was thrown into a violent tumble through the gravel trap.

The Repsol Honda rider, who has suffered a number of high-profile crashes over the past 12 months, received immediate medical attention trackside before being taken to the circuit medical centre in an ambulance.

After complaining of pain to his chest and spine, an injury he picked up in a crash at the one-day post-Catalan MotoGP test last week, Lorenzo was taken to hospital for MRI and CT scans.

Having missed FP2 in hospital, it was confirmed Lorenzo will sit out the remainder of the Dutch TT after being declared unfit to race this weekend.

Repsol Honda could look for a replacement this weekend, with HRC test rider Stefan Bradl an option, while it remains unclear how long the five-time world champion will be out of action.

Assen starts a back-to-back run of races with the German round at Sachsenring taking place next weekend before the summer break.

Lorenzo’s latest off continues his miserable run of injuries sustained over the past 12 months which began with a high-speed crash during practice at last year’s Thailand MotoGP which ruled him out of four rounds.

After moving to Honda over the winter, Lorenzo then fractured his left wrist while training which forced him to miss large chunks of pre-season testing.

Lorenzo was at the centre of a high-profile off when he crashed out of the Catalan MotoGP and accidently took out Andrea Dovizioso, Maverick Vinales and Valentino Rossi. The Spaniard then suffered chest and neck pain in a testing crash at the post-Catalan MotoGP test last week.