Bagnaia will race in Portugal; Raul Fernandez, in

April 24, 2022

Portimao.- The Italian Ducati rider suffered a hard crash this Saturday when he was looking for a fast lap that would allow him to qualify for Q2, hitting his right shoulder. At first, the image of the runner putting his hand to his right arm made one think of a clavicle fracture, typical in this type of fall, which set off alarm bells in the Bologna team.

After being evacuated from the track, Pecco Bagnaia was transferred to the Portimao hospital, where more in-depth tests were carried out, as well as a CAT scan, to determine that there was no fracture and that it was a severe bruise on the clavicle.

This Sunday morning, Ducati reported that the rider “has had a good night and has been able to rest and, although he is still in some pain, he is ready to take part in the warm-up and the race”.

Bagnaia was visited by the championship doctors who declared him fit to get on the bike. The Italian, however, will have to start on the grid as the last classified having failed to complete any lap in Q1.

The one who also suffered a heavy crash during Q1 was the leader of the World Championship, the also Italian Enea Bastianini, who will start 18th on the grid and who has recovered perfectly to face a race in which he will have the difficult mission of climbing positions to try to defend the championship lead.

Raúl Fernández, declared unfit

The one who will not be able to race this Sunday’s race in Portimao is the young Tech3 KTM rookie Raúl Fernández, who also suffered a heavy fall over his bike in Q1, hitting the asphalt of turn 5 with his right hand, so it has a small fracture.

Finally, after undergoing a check-up with the doctors this Sunday morning, the Spanish rider has been declared unfit, so he will not take part in the race while waiting to recover with a view to the Spanish Grand Prix to be held next Weekend.

Francesco Bagnaia, Equipo Ducati