Moto2: Manzi punished for Pratama clash

Stefano Manzi will be demoted to last on the grid in Sunday's Dutch Moto2 Grand Prix for causing a nasty accident that hospitalised Dimas Ekky Pratama.

Manzi hit Pratama under braking for Turn 9 at the start of opening practice at Assen, sending the Indonesian off-track where he was knocked unconscious after falling heavily in the gravel trap.

The session was red-flagged while Pratama received medical treatment and he will remain in hospital tonight, following the concussion.

The FIM Stewards ruled that Manzi failed to ride 'in a responsible manner which does not cause danger to other competitors' and 'taking into account the degree of seriousness of the offence' handed the MV Agusta competitor a back-of-the-grid start.

"I would like to apologise for the crash in this morning's FP1 and I wish Ekky Pratama a speedy recovery for the accident that was caused by contact between me and him," Manzi said.