VALENTINO ROSSI crashed on the first lap of the MotoGP at Motegi.
The Ducati rider was squeezed by Lorenzo as the packed bunched up into the first left-hander. Rossi tucked the front and slid into the path of Spies, who - judging by these photos - was lucky to stay on.
Rossi described the collision with the two Yamaha riders: "We were a little unlucky. Unfortunately, Lorenzo went onto the grass slightly in Turn 1, and in the next turn he moved suddenly to get his trajectory right. He didn’t see me because I was slightly behind. When he touched me, it pushed me into Spies, who touched my front brake lever. It was normal racing contact, but I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Spies re-joined the race but Rossi called it a day. Let's hope that engine didn't lunch itself; Rossi doesn't need another pitlane start.
