OJ concussed in Qatar

French rider Olivier Jacque is a major doubt for the rest of the first IRTA test in Qatar after he suffered concussion in a heavy crash this afternoon.

The factory Kawasaki rider was taken by ambulance to hospital in Doha after undergoing lengthy treatment in the circuit medical centre.

The former world 250 champion crashed at Turn 2 immediately in front of American John Hopkins, who said: “It was a real big one.”

Some reports suggested that Jacque’s concussion was so severe at first that he was struggling to remember his own name in the medical centre, he had no recollection of the crash and was unaware that he was in Qatar.

It is understood he will undergo precautionary CAT scans in hospital as he finished with the 17th fastest time, while team-mate Randy de Puniet was 11th quickest.