Le Mans MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista withdraws after crash

Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista has opted to withdraw from tomorrow’s French MotoGP race at Le Mans after suffering a massive high-side crash in the final free practice session. 

The former world 125GP champion bravely tried to compete this weekend just over a week after a motocross training accident left him needing a plate and six screws inserted in a broken left shoulder.

But his efforts were undone by a massive high-side crash on just his third lap of this morning’s second practice session at a hot and sunny Le Mans.

Bautista lost control of his factory Suzuki GSV-R at the Musee left-hander and landed heavily on his left shoulder.

Although he didn’t aggravate the already damaged shoulder, Bautista did suffer a heavy blow to his left hip.

Suzuki also revealed to MCN that he suffered two cracked ribs in the recent motocross crash and the pain of that injury had worsened after today’s high-side.

Bautista had been 17th and last in the opening practice session with a  best lap of 1.37.5252 that left him over three seconds off the pace.

Bautista will be back in action at the next race in Mugello on June 6.

Ben Spies and Mika Kallio also crashed heavily this morning.