Iannuzzo hospitalised after crash.

Team Pedercini endured a terrible day in Australia, highlighted by Vittorio Iannuzzo injuring his left wrist in a startline accident with Michel Fabrizio.

The rider from Avellino was starting from the back of the grid when he encountered Fabrizio stopped on the grid after stalling his factory Ducati.

Unsighted by riders ahead of him, Iannuzzo tried to avoid his Italian countryman but piled into the side of the Ducati and was thrown from his Pedercini Kawasaki as a result. He was treated at the trackside before being taken to Melbourne hospital, where he underwent surgery to try and reduce the damage sustained. Although he is still on the danger list, a two-month stop is the expected recovery period.

Team manager Lucio Pedercini expressed his obvious sadness at the events as he gave news of his rider's injuries.

"We are all so sad about Iannuzzo's accident and, together, we send him our best wishes," he said, "Unfortunately, the injury seems to be serious and he might not take to the track for a long time. We wish that his will can allow him to be back on the bike as soon as possible."

Saddened team-mate Ayrton Badovini, who looked so strong in Qatar, chose to pit in after ten laps in the first race due to handling problems. A fix for the problems was not forthcoming and the Italian former Superstock winner started race two only as an effort to gain experience.

"I'm so sorry about Iannuzzo's injury," Badovini admitted, "I wish him to be back on the bike soon. My weekend was not fine either, as I could not find a satisfying set-up and cannot repeat the good performance of Qatar."