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    Watch heart-stopping moment MotoGP driver flips over bike and lands on his head after hitting team-mate in 140mph crash

    MOTOGP youngster Ryusei Yamanaka suffered a huge scare when crashing into his team-mate at 140mph and landing on his head.
    The Japanese racer flipped his motorbike in the terrifying incident but is thought to be okay after getting back to his feet soon after.

    Ryusei Yamanaka clipped the backwheel of Sergio Garcia’s bike in Friday practiceCredit: Twitter @MotoGP

    The Japanese teenager went over his handlebars and landed on his headCredit: Twitter @MotoGP

    In practice for this weekend’s Moto3 Grand Prix in Valencia, Yamanaka was hurtling down the main straight behind Honda team-mate Sergio Garcia.
    In the slipstream of the Spaniard, he was late on the brakes and clipped the back wheel of his colleague.
    That was enough to send Yamanaka over his handlebars and he hit the ground head-first in a terrifying impact.
    The 19-year-old skidded alongside his bike into the Turn 1 gravel trap and medics rushed onto the scene.

    Yamanaka was stretchered away from the incident and could be seen communicating with the emergency crew while sitting up.
    MotoGP confirmed shortly afterwards that the Honda star had been taken to the medical centre at Circuit Ricardo Tormo for a check-up.

    The terrifying accident occurred at around 140 miles per hourCredit: Twitter @MotoGP

    Yamanaka is in the early days of his motorbike racing careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    Yamanaka will hope to be fit for Saturday’s qualifying session, with the race set for Sunday morning.
    With 13 points from 12 races in 2020, he sits near the bottom of the Moto3 standings.

    This is the Chiba-born racer’s first full year at Moto3 level after finishing fifth in the 2019 Moto3 Junior Championship.

    Watch MotoGP star Joan Mir pull off spectacularly stylish save after crashing at French GP More

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    MotoGP star Valentino Rossi, 41, jets to Wag Francesca Sofia Novello’s birthday and then tests positive for Covid

    MOTOGP legend Valentino Rossi has been slammed after taking a private jet to his girlfriend Francesca Sofia Novello’s 27th birthday.
    The 41-year-old Italian jetted to France and back to attend the model’s birthday bash.

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    MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has been slammed for taking a private jet to his girlfriend’s birthdayCredit: AFP or licensors

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    The Italian flew to France and back for Francesca Sofia Novello’s bashCredit: Intagram @francescasofianovello

    And fellow riders have criticised him after he tested positive for coronavirus soon after returning.
    The party was on October 13 and the nine-time world champion announced his positive test just two days later.
    He missed last weekend’s Aragon GP as a result and will also be out of action for this weekend’s meeting at the same venue.
    Spanish outlet Marca reported the iconic rider boarded a private jet to make sure he was present for Novello’s special occasion.

    And Spaniard Pol Espargaro who rides for KTM has no time for his fellow rider’s actions.
    He said: “Everyone has a personal responsibility to know the risk that exists.
    “Those who want to race cannot go to birthdays or private parties.
    “At home I don’t see friends, I don’t go to a restaurant or anything.

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    “This season is peculiar and the one who suffers the most damage is the driver who is infected with the coronavirus because he is forced to skip races.
    “I am alone with my wife and daughter and we use extreme precautions: I wash my hands 30 times a day and I always wear a mask.
    “When I want to go home after a race I ask for permission, and like everyone else, to return to the paddock I have to present a negative test.
    “For example, Valentino will miss two races and therefore the championship is compromised for him.
    “Two races out, he will pay a lot. Everyone is responsible for their actions.”
    Yamaha racer Rossi is eleventh in MotoGP’s 2020 standings.

    And announcing the positive test last week, he wrote on social media: “Unfortunately, this morning I woke up and I was not feeling good.
    “My bones were sore and I had a slight fever, so I immediately called the doctor who tested me twice.”
    He added that, while the “quick PCR test was negative”, the second one was positive.
    Rossi continued: “I am so disappointed that I will have to miss the race at Aragon.
    “I’d like to be optimistic and confident, but I expect the second round in Aragon to be a no-go for me as well.”

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    Novello is a modelCredit: Intagram @francescasofianovello

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    She is based in Italy for most of the yearCredit: Intagram @francescasofianovello

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    And she is currently dating Rossi who is 14 years her seniorCredit: Intagram @francescasofianovello

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    Novello often posts glam shots of herself in social mediaCredit: Intagram @francescasofianovello

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    She has more than 338k Instagram followers

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    Her beau Rossi made sure he was there for her special occasionCredit: Instagram @francescasofianovello

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    Rossi tested positive for Covid-19 just days after Novello’s partyCredit: Instagram @francescasofianovello

    Fears for Fabio Quartararo after Moto GP star in horror crash at Aragon GP and is taken away on stretcher More

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    Fears for Fabio Quartararo after Moto GP star in horror crash at Aragon GP and is taken away on stretcher

    FABIO QUARTARARO was caught up in a brutal crash that saw the racing ace stretchered off during a dramatic third MotoGP practice for the Aragon Grand Prix. 
    Shocking footage shows the championship leader flying off his bike at Turn 14, before attempting to limp away. 

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    Fabio Quartararo flew off his bike at Turn 14 of a MotoGP practice for the Aragon Grand Prix

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    The Frenchman landed heavily on his elbow after flying over his Yamaha bike

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    The championship leader had to be stretchered off after attempting to walk following the crash

    The session got underway an hour later than scheduled amid safety concerns around the cold temperature.
    Slow-motion footage of the incident shows the racer losing control of his Yamaha on the curb, before flying over it and smashing sideways on the track.  
    And the Frenchman can later be seen grabbing his left shoulder before medics came to his rescue after he gingerly attempted to walk. 
    Thankfully, it has been reported that X-rays show the Moto GP star has suffered no broken bones.

    The horror crash was the second dramatic incident for the championship frontrunner who narrowly escaped injury on the opening day of the Grand Prix on Friday.
    The Yamaha rider suffered a morning fall at the Spanish circuit in the midst of chilly conditions on the track and is reported to have hurt his hip.
    The latest incident could put a dent in Quatararo’s title hopes if he is unable to compete in a fully fit condition this weekend. 

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    Incredible on board footage showed Quartararo flying from his bike

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    He then slid alongside his ride into the gravel

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    Despite the crash the Frenchman is currently in third place in Q2

    And LCR’s Cal Crutchlow has moved up to fourth. 
    Quartararo’s rival Franco Morbidelli topped the practice event at Aragon following the Frenchman’s crash. 

    Fears for Fabio Quartararo after Moto GP star in horror crash at Aragon GP and is taken away on stretcher More

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    Watch MotoGP star Joan Mir pull off spectacularly stylish save after crashing at French GP

    JOAN MIR shrugged off a nasty looking crash with smooth style at the Moto GP French Grand Prix in Le Mans this morning.
    The Spaniard appeared to be in big trouble as he crashed his Suzuki in the final two minutes of FP3 as he lost his front end.

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    Fans winced as Joan Mir slid across the tarmac

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    Mir amazingly managed to spring to his feet

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    The Spaniard then legged it over to his bike

    Fans winced as the 23-year-old slid on his side across the track for what must have been at least ten metres.
    But incredibly, Mir shrugged it off, bouncing to his feet in one smooth motion.
    And he didn’t stop for even a moment.
    Instead, he immediately jogged over to retrieve his bike.

    The incident proved pretty costly for his time, however.
    Mir fell to 12th in FP3.
    Today’s incident was by no means the first dangerous mishap in Moto GP this season.
    Back in August, Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco collided in a horror 200mph incident at the Austrian GP.

    [embedded content]

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    Joan Mir drives for SuzukiCredit: EPA

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    And Valentino Rossi somehow avoided being collateral damage in the horrific incident, narrowly avoiding the chaos left by the crash.
    Six-time Marc Marquez was also in a world of trouble back in July, when he fell off his bike at the Spanish GP.
    The fall led to the legendary racer, 27, having to undergo surgery on a broken arm.

    Moto GP bike flies past Valentino Rossi at incredible speed after unbelievable crash during race in Austria More

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    Stomach-churning moment MotoGP star Cal Crutchlow’s arm muscle MOVES during surgery on broken wrist

    MOTO GP star Cal Crutchlow has shared stomach-churning footage of surgery on his broken wrist.
    The rock-hard Brit suffered the injury during the first round of the 2020 season in Spain in July… and still raced the NEXT WEEKEND in the Andalusian GP.

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    Cal Crutchlow has shared stomach-churning footage of surgery on his broken wristCredit: Getty Images

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    The Moto GP star has recently undergone surgery for a broken wristCredit: https://www.instagram.com/calcrutchlow/

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    He has shared a clip online that has left followers feeling faintCredit: https://www.instagram.com/calcrutchlow/
    Now he has posted a clip from operation on his wrist – and it is not for the faint-hearted.
    Crutchlow’s arm muscle can be incredibly seen moving around during the surgery.
    And his followers on Instagram were quick to let him know how gruesome they found it.
    “Think the wife has just gone faint,” declared one.

    Another called him a “machine” as a fellow fan commented: “Ah man! Just had to throw my steak dinner in the bin!”
    Another said: “That’s incredible to see. Thanks for sharing and I’m sure I’ve seen this on a Terminator movie.”
    Crutchlow finished an incredible 13th in Andalusia, less than a week after the major surgery.
    And that is still his best result of the season after five races, as manufacturers Honda continue to struggle.

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    Viewers could see his arm muscle moving while the surgery was being performedCredit: https://www.instagram.com/calcrutchlow/
    He only has seven points from the first five races, but insists he is riding at “maybe 90-95 per cent” he is adamant his motivation is still high.
    He said: “If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t still be here.
    “If I didn’t love it and didn’t want to do it, I wouldn’t want to ride next year – and I do.
    “I still want to be able to be fast, I still am fast. I can guarantee you now, I am still fast.
    “This is not about my speed, this is not about where I can finish.
    “At the moment I can’t get the feeling with the bike and it’s never really happened to me that bad in such a long space of time.
    “But we’ve also understood the bikes better in other years, I feel.

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    “When I get on the bike, every single time I think we can do a good session and it doesn’t work out.
    “My motivation is high, my positivity is always good. I don’t get on the bike thinking it’s a job.
    “After the session, [if] you’ve had not the greatest result, you start to become disappointed, and disappointment is also a sign to say that you’re still wanting to do well instead of just being not bothered.
    “I’m working as hard as ever, so it’s not like I have lost any motivation, determination.
    “I definitely haven’t lost any speed, that’s for sure.” More

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    Moto GP rider Maverick Vinales escapes unhurt after jumping from bike at 125mph as brakes fail at Austrian GP

    MOTO GP rider Maverick Vinales was forced to leap from his bike at 125mph and somehow escaped unhurt.
    The Spaniard pulled the death defying stunt at Austria’s Red Bull Ring when his brakes failed approaching a bend.

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    Maverick Vinales was forced to leap from his motorbike at 125mph

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    His bike burst into flames after it hurled into the barriers
    Vinales was 13th having fallen back from sixth due to recurring brake issues.
    And then his afternoon got even worse when his front brake packed up completely as he sped towards the fast right-handed turn one.
    Breathtaking footage shows Vinales bail out at the bottom of a straight and skid at frightening speed on his back.
    He eventually came to a stop and leapt to his feet unharmed but his bike was not so lucky.

    The powerful machine stayed upright, hurtled into the barriers and immediately burst into flames.
    Explaining the incident after the race, the 25-year-old said: “I started to lose the front pressure of the brake. I was trying trying, I went out [of the track] one time.
    “I made three laps very slow then again [I was] without brakes.

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    The Spaniard was forced into the stunt after his brakes failed

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    The incident occurred at Austria’s Red Bull Ring
    “Suddenly the brake was good, I was recovering a lot and then suddenly in corner one the brake exploded, so it wasn’t possible to do nothing.

    “It’s something I never had during all my MotoGP career.
    “Maybe the brake would go down a little bit, I’d play with the lever, but today every lap I was adjusting the lever corner by corner, I could not make anything.
    “I think the part went away, on the brake. I remained without brakes – the first intention was to go out of the bike, because I couldn’t stop the bike, impossible.
    “But what can you do? I would not remain on the bike, I jumped.
    “I understood very well that the brake was broken or something, so I decided to jump.
    “Nothing more, we lose and we win together.
    “We’re going to try to come back stronger – now we have to forget these two races in Austria, for sure it’s the worst two races I’ve been in in MotoGP.

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    “We deserve something better, we worked really hard all weekend.”
    The race ended in equally dramatic fashion with Miguel Oliveira on a Tech3 KTM overtaking two rivals on the last corner to jump from third to first and win.
    And the incident came just days after a horror 200mph crash when a flying bike missed Valentino Rossi by just inches.

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    Moto GP star Maverick Vinales escapes unhurt after leaping from bike at 125mph as brakes fail at Austria’s Red Bull Ring

    MOTO GP star Maverick Vinales was forced to leap from his bike at 125mph and somehow escaped unhurt.
    The Spaniard pulled the death defying stunt at Austria’s Red Bull Ring after his brakes failed approaching a bend.

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    Maverick Vinales was forced to leap from his motorbike at 125mph

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    His bike burst into flames after it hurled into the barriers
    Vinales was 13th having fallen back from sixth due to recurring brake issues.
    And then his afternoon got even worse when his front brake packed up completely as he sped towards the fast right-handed turn one.
    Breathtaking footage shows Vinales bail out at the bottom of a straight and skid at frightening speed on his back.
    He eventually came to a stop and leapt to his feet unharmed but his bike was not so lucky.

    The powerful machine stayed upright, hurtled into the barriers and immediately burst into flames.
    Explaining the incident after the race, the 25-year-old said: “I started to lose the front pressure of the brake. I was trying trying, I went out [of the track] one time.
    “I made three laps very slow then again [I was] without brakes.

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    The Spaniard was forced into the stunt after his brakes failed

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    The incident occurred at Austria’s Red Bull Ring
    “Suddenly the brake was good, I was recovering a lot and then suddenly in corner one the brake exploded, so it wasn’t possible to do nothing.

    “It’s something I never had during all my MotoGP career.
    “Maybe the brake would go down a little bit, I’d play with the lever, but today every lap I was adjusting the lever corner by corner, I could not make anything.
    “I think the part went away, on the brake. I remained without brakes – the first intention was to go out of the bike, because I couldn’t stop the bike, impossible.
    “But what can you do? I would not remain on the bike, I jumped.
    “I understood very well that the brake was broken or something, so I decided to jump.
    “Nothing more, we lose and we win together.
    “We’re going to try to come back stronger – now we have to forget these two races in Austria, for sure it’s the worst two races I’ve been in in MotoGP.

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    “We deserve something better, we worked really hard all weekend.”
    The race ended in equally dramatic fashion with Miguel Oliveira on a Tech3 KTM overtaking two rivals on the last corner to jump from third to first and win.
    And the incident came just days after a horror 200mph crash when a flying bike missed Valentino Rossi by just inches.

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    Watch horror 200mph crash as MotoGP riders collide at Austrian GP and flying bikes miss Valentino Rossi by inches

    THIS is the terrifying moment two MotoGP riders crashed at around 200mph and Valentino Rossi somehow cheated death after missing the aftermath by millimetres.
    The horrendous incident occurred at the Austrian GP between Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco.

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    Morbidelli and Zarco can be seen flung across the groundCredit: BT Sport

    If there’s ever a moment to make you question if you want to continue…Valentino Rossi looks visibly shaken after the crash between Morbidelli and Zarco.Rossi’s onboard footage shows the bike bounce over him 😳#AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/5t9DZ3VUWW
    — MotoGP on BT Sport (@btsportmotogp) August 16, 2020

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    This is how close Rossi came to being smashed by one of the bikesCredit: BT Sport

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    All drivers miraculously escaped without major injuriesCredit: BT Sport

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    Rossi cheated death by millimetres as the bike is thrown in front of him

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    This is Rossi’s view as the second of the two bikes flies passed
    As the pair attempted to head flat out down the straight, the two bikes tangled in the breaking area on the second corner.
    The two drivers are then thrown like rag dolls across the gravel as the commentators watched on in disbelief.
    Both Morbidelli and Zarco’s bikes were totally destroyed but they miraculously escaped without major injuries.
    With the two drivers thrown across the ground, both bikes are flung across the track at a remarkable speed.

    With shrapnel flying everywhere, the bikes curtail towards the corner where the other racers are approaching.
    Unbelievably both bikes luckily miss nine-time world champ Rossi by a whisker.
    It would have certainly caused the Italian some serious damage had it smashed into his side at such a pace.
    Franco is instantly onto his feet and runs over to his fellow racer to check on his welfare as the red flag is immediately raised.

    Moridelli then takes himself to the ambulance so get checked over.
    LUCKY ESCAPE
    The commentary sums up just how close Rossi was to being hit by the bike.
    Almost stunned into silence, one then says: “I can not believe Valentino Rossi there…
    “Thank you thank you. That bike misses him by, well…”
    The other commentator adds: “Wow. There’s nothing Rossi can do about it. What a mess.”
    He later says: “If anything would want to make you retire, that would be it.”
    Footage from Rossi’s headcam shows just how close he was to being hit by the loose bike.
    He then appears visibly shaken after pulling into the pitstop after finally coming to terms about what had just happened.
    Those watching from their sofas were left stunned that Rossi escaped the accident.

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    Zarco checks on Morbidelli after the horror crashCredit: BT Sport

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    The two flying bikes somehow miss the other racersCredit: BT Sport

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    One wrote: “Valentino’s clearly earned some points over the years with whoever’s in charge upstairs.”
    Another added: “The racing gods were with Vale today.”
    A third said: “Someone was watching over you today.”

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