China MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo major doubt after massive high-side

MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo will bravely try and ride through the pain barrier tomorrow after he suffered a fractured left ankle in a massive high-side crash in Shanghai earlier today (Friday).

The Fiat Yamaha rider was viciously thrown from his factory YZR-M1 machine as he flicked left to enter the downhill second corner in this morning’s opening free practice session.

He was on his 12th lap and on his first flying lap on a new Michelin rear tyre when he crashed out.

The 20-year-old, who won his first premier class race, needed lengthy treatment and an MRI scan at the Huashan hospital in Shanghai, where he was diagnosed with a fractured left ankle, plus serious trauma to his right ankle and tibia.

Doctors believe that the fracture on his left ankle is the same bone the double world 250 champion broke back in 2002.

Sources claim Lorenzo will attempt to ride tomorrow morning though his chances of extending his 100 per cent podium record in his rookie campaign now appear extremely remote.

A team statement tonight in China said Lorenzo will be examined in the circuit medical centre tomorrow morning before a decision on whether he is fit to ride is taken. Lorenzo was riding just two weeks after undergoing surgery on his right arm to cure a niggling arm pump problem.

His crew chief Ramon Forcada said: “It is a great pity this has happened. We were focused on his arm following his recent operation and we were quite confident that he could ride as usual.

“It was a very bad crash and it is not clear yet what happened because we lost all data when the equipment was damaged in the crash.

“As far as we can see from TV, he lost grip on the rear. I don’t know if Jorge will be able to ride tomorrow, but in any case we have lost two sessions. It will be very, very hard, even as tough as Jorge is.”

Check out the video below to see what happens.