More injury woes for Lorenzo

The Spaniard took fourth place from Andrea Dovizioso into Turn Four, but the bike high-sided as he got on the throttle to exit the corner and he was thrown through the air and into the gravel trap.

He broke the third and fifth metatarsal bones in his left foot and faces another race against time to be fit for the next round, at Brno in four weeks.

This is his third major injury of the season after fracturing his right leg and both ankles in a crash in the Chinese Grand Prix in May, and sustaining a severe concussion and a hand injury in a practice crash at Barcelona last month.

"I'm very sad today because I had a lot of confidence for the race after qualifying," said Lorenzo. "At the very start of the race I was fourth and feeling good, then I crashed.

"My tyre was not up to temperature, I lost the rear and the next thing I knew I was in the gravel with pain in my foot.

"It's one more crash, one more injury, and it's another moment I have to forget as soon as possible. I need to look forward. I am so sad but now I must concentrate on the fact that I have a whole month before Brno in order to be fit and able to race in good shape. This is my aim."

Lorenzo flew home this evening to be assessed by a medical team in Barcelona.