Andrea Iannone’s weekend at the GP TIM di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini did not get off to the sort of start he would have wished for as a crash sent him tumbling through the gravel at turn 13 early in FP1.
Iannone suffered a heavy blow to his back and although he was on two feet after the incident he was taken to the circuit medical centre and then by helicopter to the Bufalini Hospital in Cesena for tests.
A CT scan revealed the presence of a fractured D3 vertebra. Medical staff will therefore reassess Iannone’s fitness on Saturday morning before deciding whether he will participate in FP3.
Andrea Iannone: "In the first FP1 run on my fifth lap I slipped and lost the front at turn 13, then I started to roll in the gravel. Unfortunately I suffered a compression to my back and the tests have shown a fractured D3 vertebra. The doctors have decided to check me again tomorrow morning, before giving me any OK for the race. I hope to be able to rest well tonight and wake up without too much pain, because I really want to race at Misano."