Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi has escaped serious injury after a fiery crash during final practice for the Valencia MotoGP.
In a dramatic start to the session, the Italian fell at turn seven on his out lap from the pits on cold tyres, less than two minutes after the lights turned green.
The bike barrel rolled through the gravel before bursting into flames.
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Officials red flagged the session as the mess was cleaned up, but Bezzecchi was able to return to the pits and complete the session on his spare bike, eventually posting the 22nd fastest time.
Australia’s Jack Miller was quickest.
A total of seven riders fell in cool conditions that made it hard to get heat into the tyres.
KTM’s Brad Binder was another to fall, but he recovered to set the third fastest time, while Spain’s Raul Fernandez was taken to hospital for checks after he also fell, although he was able to walk away from the accident.
The other Australian in the field, Remy Gardner, was 19th.
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