Francesco Bagnaia will miss the Czech and Austrian grand prix weekends after suffering a knee injury during FP1 at Brno on Friday morning.
The Pramac racer crashed at high-speed at Turn 1 in the closing stages of the opening practice session of the Czech GP event, and struggled to stand on his right leg shortly following the incident.
He was then swiftly transported to the local Brno University Hospital for tests, where it was subsequently decided he needed immediate surgery on his knee.
This automatically rules him out for both this weekend’s Czech GP as well as the Austrian event next weekend, while any participation in the Styrian GP in two weeks time-also held at the Red Bull Ring in Austria- also remains in doubt.
Pramac Racing team manager Francesco Guidotti said of Bagnaia’s condition: “Right now, he’s undergoing an MRI and after that we will know more.
“For sure, he will not ride here, and most probably in Austria it will be really tough.
“Before creating some fake news or something that can be misunderstood we will wait for the results of the MRI and the doctor will say what’s going on.”
Bagnaia’s injury comes at a tough time as the sophomore racer is looking to firmly thrust himself into the shop window for the second factory Ducati seat alongside current Pramac team-mate Jack Miller.
Andrea Dovizioso still remains favourite to remain in red next year, but as contract negations continue to remain at a stalemate it’s getting ever more important for Ducati to line up a replacement should the situation dictate it.
Bagnaia’s form has improved significantly following a rather low-key debut premier class campaign last year, the ’18 Moto2 world champion backing up a pair of top four qualifying results at Jerez with a strong ride in the Andalucian GP that saw him closing in on a debut podium finish before his GP20’s engine expired with just a handful of laps remaining.
