How is Pecco Bagnaia doing after his terrifying crash: why he’s skipping the race but isn’t returning to Italy right away

It was a scary moment, but fortunately Pecco Bagnaia is in stable condition following the dramatic crash he was involved in during the first lap of the MotoGP Sprint Race in Qatar. The Turin-born Ducati rider was violently rear-ended by Fermin Aldeguer as he braked for Turn 16, suffering a terrifying highside that threw him from the bike and sent him crashing hard onto the asphalt. The impact prompted race officials to immediately wave the red flag to allow for on-track medical assistance.

Despite the shocking nature of the crash, Pecco remained conscious throughout and was immediately attended to and immobilized by medical staff before being transferred to the circuit’s medical center and, subsequently, to a hospital in Doha. Examinations and initial X-rays coordinated by MotoGP’s chief medical officer, Angel Charte, revealed fractures of the fourth and fifth metatarsals in his right foot. This clinical picture makes it completely impossible for him to participate in Sunday’s main race in Lusail.

Despite the forced stoppage on the track, Bagnaia will not return to Italy immediately. As reported by Sky Sport, the rider has been transferred to a hospital in Doha, where he is currently being treated to undergo further in-depth diagnostic tests with the primary goal of preventing any possible complications.

Bagnaia’s stay in the Qatari capital—with his departure for Italy postponed until at least Sunday evening— will also allow the medical staff to accurately assess the extent of the comminuted fracture and perform the necessary clinical evaluations to determine whether to operate on-site or to schedule the surgery and subsequent rehabilitation with his trusted doctors once he returns home.