MOTO GP champion Francesco Bagnaia was rushed to hospital after being run over by TWO rivals.
Bagnaia was thrown from his bike in the first lap of the Catalan GP as he led the race.
Francesco Bagnaia was thrown from his bike in the first lap
A rival accidentally ran over the Italian
Bagnaia was leading the race at the time of the crash
The defending champion received medical attention on the trackCredit: Getty
He was taken to hospital after sustaining leg injuriesCredit: AFP
The racer received plastering on his left hand and ankle
Bagnaia is leading the Moto GP standingsCredit: Getty
Within seconds he was hit by two rivals as his competitors raced past, despite their best efforts to dodge him.
Bagnaia, 26, initially attempted to get to his feet before collapsing to the ground as medics rushed onto the track to provide assistance.
Seconds earlier at the previous corner a collision wiped out four drivers, who seemed unharmed.
But Bagnaia was raced to hospital after sustaining injuries to his legs.
MotoGP Medical Director Dr. Angel Charte provided an update on his condition.
He told DAZN: “Pecco has had severe polytrauma, a motorbike ran over him in the femoral and tibial area. We have taken x-rays of this area and have detected a small injury that we don’t know if it is current or old.
“We need to do an urgent CAT scan and that is why we have sent him to the general hospital.
“At cranial, thoracic and abdominal levels, he has been normal at all times. He was conscious and oriented. The image we have seen is from conventional radiology, so it is difficult to be sure that there is no fracture. It is necessary to do a CAT scan.”
Bagnaia received plastering on his left hand and left ankle following the crash.
But he was all smiles as he sat in a wheelchair in hospital, and he is set to travel to his home in Italy.
Bagnaia is leading the Moto GP standings by 50 points to team-mate Jorge Martin.
He has five wins this season and will hope his injuries do not prevent him from continuing the defence of his 2022 title.
The Italian is engaged to Domizia Castagnini after proposing to his fiancee on Christmas Eve last year.