Vinales withdraws from next two MotoGP grands prix after Sachsenring crash

Maverick Vinales will miss the remainder of MotoGP’s German Grand Prix weekend and the upcoming Czech GP after fracturing his left shoulder in a qualifying crash earlier today.

Vinales suffered a big high-side in the opening stages of a wet Q2 session. Although he was able to walk away from the incident at Turn 4, landing heavily on his left shoulder had clearly caused some damage.

He was initially taken to the medical centre at the circuit, but was then transferred to a local hospital for further assessment.

A subsequent statement from his Tech3 team read: “Following his Q2 crash, Maverick was brought to the medical centre. He had a dislocated left shoulder, which was immediately put back in place at the track, but the doctors suspected a small fracture.

“The fracture was confirmed at the local hospital. Maverick will be unfit for the remainder of the German Grand Prix.”

Vinales returned to the circuit after his hospital visit and confirmed that he would also miss the Czech Grand Prix next weekend. He was hopeful that he could be fit for the Austrian Grand Prix, which follows the summer break on 15-17 August.

“I'm going to skip this one and Brno,” he told DAZN. “Let's see if I can make it to Austria. I've broken the top of my shoulder, torn a ligament and have a partial tear or pinched tendon.”