Franco Morbidelli and Raul Fernandez were unable to participate in this week’s official MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang due to injuries sustained in separate accidents.
Morbidelli, a rider for Pramac Ducati, had a setback in his plan to familiarize himself with his new motorcycle after a severe crash during a private test in Portimao last week. Riding a Ducati superbike at the time, the Italian lost consciousness in a high-speed accident at Turn 9 of the Portuguese circuit.
Morbidelli’s medical examination was delayed by his team in the hopes that he would still be able to ride his Ducati GP24 at Sepang. However, after undergoing multiple CT scans, it was determined that he would be unable to ride for three weeks.
Unfortunately, this means that Morbidelli will also miss the final pre-season test in Qatar. His next opportunity to compete will be at the opening round of the 2024 season at Lusail in early March.
Following his crash, Morbidelli was promptly transported to the hospital for further evaluations. Initial tests have shown positive signs regarding his current condition, and he will spend the night at Faro Hospital as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, Fernandez, a pilot for Trackhouse Aprilia, had his Sepang test cut short after crashing his RS-GP at Turn 11 on Tuesday morning. Although he did not sustain any serious injuries, he did experience significant bruising to his pelvis and hip.
To avoid exacerbating his injury prior to the start of the season, Fernandez decided to return home and focus on his recovery for the two-day Qatar test in a couple of weeks. Lorenzo Savadori, a test rider for Aprilia, will take Fernandez’s place for the remainder of the test, allowing the new Trackhouse team to continue accumulating mileage in preparation for their debut in the premier class.
Expressing his regret, Fernandez apologized to Aprilia and the Trackhouse Racing MotoGP Team for the incident. He explained that the crash caught him off guard due to the track conditions and acknowledged that it would not be safe for him to continue riding in his current condition. His main priority now is to recover and rest in order to be fully prepared for the Qatar Test and carry out the planned work. Once again, he expressed his apologies to Aprilia and the team.
