Italy’s Iannone fastest in practice as Crutchlow fractures ankle

PHILLIP ISLAND: Italy’s Andrea Iannone clocked the fastest time in practice ahead of the Australian Grand

Prix as Cal Crutchlow (pic) had a heavy crash and was stretchered away holding his leg.

The Suzuki rider powered to a quickest lap of 1:29.131 at the death after the opening session was delayed by almost two hours due to oil on the track and rain yesterday.

Fellow Italian Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) was 0.160 behind in second place, while Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales, who topped the first practice, came third.

Newly-crowned world champion Marc Marquez, who has an insurmountable 102-point lead at the top of the standings, struggled around the demanding Phillip Island circuit in seventh, 0.608 off the pace.

The Spaniard, who won the race last year ahead of Valentino Rossi, took a tumble, hitting the deck on the hard turn 10 during first practice.

He got straight back on his feet, but it wasn’t a good omen for a rider who crashed out of the Australian race in 2014 and 2016.

Britain’s Crutchlow, the 2016 winner who came second in Japan last week, also had a big fall and was stretchered away holding his right leg, ending the session fifth fastest but has been ruled out of the Australian MotoGP and will be needing surgery for a fractured right ankle.

The Honda hotshot, who won at Phillip Island two years ago and had clocked one of the best laps of the day, tumbled off his bike at high speed during the final session.

“The fall left Crutchlow with a bimalleolar fracture and anterior tibia part right ankle fracture, an injury that will require the Honda rider to undergo surgery,” MotoGP organisers said.

They added that he had been “ruled him out for the rest of the weekend”.

Italian veteran Rossi could only manage tenth on a dry track after the early rain cleared.

At least the world’s best riders didn’t have to avoid the local wildlife, unlike the Moto3 contenders, with a kangaroo hopping across the track in front of one bike at Turn Five.

A black swan also took a liking to the picturesque circuit that fronts the ocean, waddling across during a lull in proceedings.