Stoner injured, Pedrosa on pole

Posted on 10 months ago

INDIANPOLIS (Agencies): Dani Pedrosa qualified on pole for the Indianapolis MotoGP race after an astonishing session which saw three huge crashes.
Reigning MotoGP champion Casey Stoner was rushed off to hospital with what was later confirmed as torn right ankle ligaments after he came off his bike on the bumpy and slippery American circuit just minutes into the session.
Stoner had a ferocious high-side at turn 13 and was thrown through the air and landed heavily, feet first, before tumbling through the gravel. His Honda had a separate series of dramatic flips.
The Australian is currently third in the world championship in what will be his final MotoGP season before retiring, 32 points behind leader Jorge Lorenzo with eight grands prix remaining.
Ben Spies also crashed heavily in the second half of the hour-long qualifying but was able to walk away, while Nicky Hayden's horrifying smash in the closing minutes led to him being taken away from the track in an ambulance though he was sitting up and talking after his bike, too, buckled away from beneath him after hitting a bump.
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