MotoGP rider Alex de Angelis injured in serious crash in Japanese Grand Prix practice at Motegi

MOTOGP rider Alex de Angelis has been injured in a serious crash during final practice ahead of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.

MOTOGP rider Alex de Angelis has been injured in a serious crash during final practice ahead of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.

De Angelis crashed between Turns 9 and 10 at the Motegi circuit with just over 20 minutes remaining in Free Practice 4.

The session was immediately halted.

Initial reports confirm that de Angelis was conscious and breathing in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

Medical crews spent several minutes treating him trackside before an ambulance slowly took him to the circuit’s medical centre.

Medical staff attend to Alex de Angelis after his crash at Motegi.

De Angelis was still conscious when he was airlifted to Dokkyo Hospital in Mibu for further treatment.

The 31-year-old rider from San Marino is a veteran of racing in the world championship, making his debut as a 125cc wildcard in 1999 at his home grand prix at Imola.

After initially graduating to MotoGP in 2008 and 2009, recent seasons have seen De Angelis racing in Moto2 before a mid-season call-up to the Forward Racing team last year.

This year he has raced for the Ioda Racing Team, sitting 25th in the championship with a pair of 15th-place finishes his best results from the season.

When the session resumed, Jorge Lorenzo finished on top of the timesheets ahead of Yamaha teammate and title rival Valentino Rossi, with Marc Marquez third.

Originally published as MotoGP rider Alex de Angelis injured in serious crash in Japanese Grand Prix practice at Motegi