Rabat suffers multiple leg fractures

Tito Rabat was airlifted to hospital for “emergency surgery” after he suffered multiple leg breaks in an impact with Franco Morbidelli’s bike during fourth practice at Silverstone.

The Avintia Ducati rider was hit by Morbidelli’s Marc VDS Honda in the gravel at Stowe corner, shortly after heavy rain fell and caused multiple riders to crash.

He was immediately airlifted to University Hospital Coventry with what was later confirmed as a broken femur, fibula and tibula.

Suzuki rider Alex Rins witnessed the incident, having crashed at Stowe moments before Rabat, and was seen gesticulating at his compatriot prior to the impact.

“What happened today was incredible, I have no words to describe it,” recalled the Suzuki rider. “When I came out of the [pit] box I saw there was a lot of water on the [Hangar] straight, almost a hand [deep], and I thought there would be a red flag.

“I saw Tito, but he was on his back. I screamed at him and I made gestures, but he could not move.

“I saw that Morbidelli was also losing control. I could not prevent his bike from hitting Rabat’s leg and throwing him two or three metres away. It was a brutal impact.”

It was the second heavy crash for 2014 Moto2 champion Rabat this year after an incident during a Michelin tyre test at Barcelona in May – back then he escaped with a small muscle rupture on his left arm, and did not need to miss a race as a result.