Italian star hospitalised after frightening MotoGP crash
Italian MotoGP star Andrea Dovizioso had to be taken to hospital after a horrific accident at the British Grand Prix.
The Ducati rider was stretchered off the Silverstone track following a fiery first-lap crash with Fabio Quartararo.
Quartararo lost control and Dovizioso was powerless to avoid the Frenchman's Yamaha, which acted as a launch ramp for the Ducati.
Yamaha's Quartararo came unstuck on the first turn after misjudging his speed and sliding right into the path of the oncoming Dovizioso.
The Italian had no time to react as his bike flipped over the top of Quartararo's Yamaha, sending both riders flying.
Dovizioso's bike then caught fire as it hurtled towards the wall, with the 33-year-old eventually coming to a stop after being sent spinning towards the kitty litter.
Both riders were initially cleared of serious injury, but Dovizioso was taken hospital after briefly losing consciousness in the accident.
The crash helped Alex Rins, who had started fifth, move up to third on the track, before he clinched victory in dramatic fashion.
If it wasn’t already hot enough @SilverstoneUK , a first corner @MotoGP crash for @FabioQ20 and @DucatiMotor @AndreaDovizioso #motogp #bikes #motorbike #grandprix #britishgrandprix #britishgp #silverstone #race #motorsport #track #crash #ducati #dovizioso #doviziosocrash pic.twitter.com/1OuIVh5itZ
— Tim Williams (@Sporturo) August 25, 2019
Rins beat world champion Marc Marquez to the finish line by 0.013 seconds to score his second race win of the season.
However, Honda's Marquez extended his lead atop the standings to 78 points after closest rival Dovizioso's crash.
Yamaha's Maverick Vinales finished third after coming from the back of the pack.
"Unbelievable. I don't have words to explain. VAMOS!" Rins said of his incredible pass coming off the final corner.
"I was keeping calm. The last corner for me was unbelievable, I was much faster than him, and finally we get it."
Marquez admitted it was frustrating to lose out after Rins nipped past him at the end, but he was happy to leave with his title hopes enhanced.
"Happy of course about the championship - about the race, no. Losing on the last straight is not the best feeling," he said.
Marquez moved onto 250 points with seven races left. Dovizioso stayed on 172. Rins climbed to third on 149, four points ahead of Danilo Petrucci of Ducati who was seventh on Sunday. Vinales rose to fifth and has 118 points.
With agencies