Capirossi's participation in doubt again

The Italian, who missed the British Grand Prix with a damaged hand, fell awkwardly on his first day back in the saddle and badly gouged his right forearm in a crash at the Ramschoek double left-hander.

He was taken to the medical centre, where MotoGP medical delegate Dr Costa operated on the injury.

"It's not good," Suzuki team principal Chris Denning told broadcaster Eurosport. "The rear came round for whatever reason on his first timed lap on new tyres, so maybe not enough tyre temperature.

"The broken hand is still in place, but when your luck runs against you it really runs, and as the bike slipped over the top of him, something has gouged an oyster sized scallop out of his forearm, right down to the muscle."

Asked whether AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies would be called in to replace Capirossi again in Holland, Denning replied: "At the moment there hasn't even been a consideration, it's absolutely been about Loris's health and his condition.

"We'll see, we will speak to Loris when he is stitched up," he added. "I can't imagine it's a good idea for the rest of the weekend, it really does look bad."