Barbera Ruled Out Of Indianapolis GP

Spanish Pramac Racing rider Hector Barbera has been ruled out of this weekend's Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix after injuring his vertebrae in a crash in the first practice session on Friday.

The Spaniard, who broke his left fibula and tibia almost a month ago, came to Indianapolis deemed fit enough to race this weekend, with previous Spanish stand-in rider Toni Elías on hand just in case. It was however not the leg, but a vicious highside coming out of the final turn that caused Barbera to suffer fractures in his dorsal vertebrae 5, 6 and 8.

He was immediately transported to the Indianapolis Methodist Hospital, where he is currently undergoing an MRI to further assess the injury.

Barbera has a history of back injuries, having been hospitalised in Japan in 2008 for fourteen days after a very similar incident where he fractured two of his vertebrae. The tests taking place at the hospital tonight are to confirm the extent of the new injury in this previously injured bone. Barbera will be kept at the hospital overnight.

Spain's Toni Elías will replace Barbera for the remainder of the weekend. Barbera placed tenth in the first practice session, whilst Elías was 17th in the second session.