Gardner: I still don’t fully understand why I went down

Remy Gardner’s Spanish Moto2 Grand Prix ended on the exit of turn one when the Australian, who looked set to fight for his second podium of the season, highsided from his SAG team Kalex.

Alex Marquez and Dimas Ekky Pratama were also brought down in the chaos that followed, bringing out the red flags.

Hasty repairs allowed Marquez to restart from pit lane but Gardner and Pratama were declared unfit, although both fortunately escaped serious injury.

"I made a decent start and after a bit of elbowing [with Marquez] into turn one I slotted into third and then I high-sided and that was the end of what could have been another really good race result," said Gardner, who was third at the time of his accident, but ruled out of the restart due to a concussion.

"I still don’t fully understand why I went down, and then they wouldn’t let me restart. I am sorry for the team, and all my supporters. The main thing is I am ok, am still fifth in the championship and will be back strong in Le Mans."

Marquez finished 24th while Pratama, who was carried away from the scene of the accident on a stretcher, was back on track for the post-race test.

Gardner, enjoying his best ever start to a grand prix season, claimed his first world championship podium with second place in Argentina.