Dutch MotoGP: Injury puts Bradley Smith out of Assen MotoGP

British teenager Bradley Smith will miss Saturday’s Dutch 125 MotoGP in Assen after suffering a broken left hand and foot in this morning’s opening free practice session. 

Details of the incident are not clear but early reports suggest Italian Andrea Iannone struck the 16-year-old.

Bradley Smith didn’t crash but the impact has broken a bone in his left hand and foot and he has just been declared unfit to ride by Clinica Mobile doctors in Saturday’s 22-lap race.

TV cameras only caught Andrea Iannone crashing in the incident which came on Smith’s ninth lap.

Bradley Smith, who claimed his maiden world championship podium finish in Le Mans earlier this season, is also likely to miss the German MotoGP at the Sachsenring on July 15, 2007.

But with the 125s not competing at the American GP in Laguna Seca seven days later, it is expected Bradley Smith will be fit to return to action after the summer break in the Brno MotoGP on August 19, 2007.

Today’s incident completed a tough few days for the Oxfordshire rider, who had suffered three crashes in tricky conditions at the British MotoGP before registering a seventh place finish.

Bradley Smith missed two races in his rookie season last year with a broken wrist.

More reaction to follow later.