Nakano shrugs off high-speed crash in Italy

Having made good use of his Bridgestone tyres in the wet-drying conditions of Friday´s first free practice outing to finish fifth on the timesheet, Shinya Nakano was fifteenth fastest overall after a spectacular crash at Mugello in a waterlogged afternoon session.

The Japanese rider was keen to notch the best possible lap times right from the word go at San Carlo Honda Gresini´s home Grand Prix, but fell victim to the adverse weather conditions in FP2 when entering the last corner leading into the main straight, lowsiding at high speed and destroying one of his 800cc RC212V prototypes.

He was taken straight to the Clinica Mobile having suffered a heavy blow to his shoulder, but medical staff were able to confirm that he had escaped any major injuries.

`After a really satisfying morning practice when I ended up fifth fastest, I was hoping to show the same kind of pace in the afternoon,´ commented Nakano. `Unfortunately, though, the track conditions changed completely, the surface was very wet and almost at the end of the afternoon session I crashed coming into the final corner.´

`It is a fast part of the track so it was a heavy fall, but fortunately I am okay,´ he continued. `We´ll have a look at the data and try to work out why I crashed but now my focus is to put it behind me and concentrate on Saturday. The weather forecast is good and that makes me confident.´