Bagnaia fractures foot in Qatar sprint crash

Francesco Bagnaia suffered two fractures in his right foot in a crash during Saturday’s Qatar MotoGP sprint, Ducati said, and was transferred to a hospital in Doha for further tests. The team said the tests would determine whether the fractures require surgery.

The accident involving Bagnaia and Fermin Aldeguer led officials to stop the sprint with a red flag. Bagnaia was taken from the track on a stretcher and examined at the Lusail International Circuit medical centre. The restarted race was run without him over a reduced 10-lap distance, rather than the original 11 laps.

Ducati said initial examinations found fractures in the fourth and fifth metatarsals of Bagnaia’s right foot. The team’s statement, attributed to MotoGP medical director Angel Charte, said he would undergo further tests at Doha Hospital. No result from those tests was reported.

The reports differ on whether Bagnaia had already been ruled out of Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix. One account said the fractures would prevent him from taking part; Ducati had not officially confirmed his absence in another. His participation therefore remained unsettled in the reported updates. The extent of any longer absence, including...