KTM rider Bradley Smith will miss the Catalunya Grand Prix as well as three days of testing at the circuit this week, after the Briton suffered a hand injury in a crash during fourth practice on Saturday.
Smith was rounding Turn 2 12 minutes into final practice when he suffered a highside, his little finger on his left hand becoming trapped under the handlebars as he slid into the gravel trap.
The British rider was taken to hospital to have the wound treated, forcing him to sit out qualifying. Smith was keen to continue riding, but after further checks this morning it was decided the Briton would be best to sit the race out as the risk of infection was too great.
Smith will also miss three vital days of testing for the Austrian marque this week at the 2.89-mile Spanish venue beginning on Monday, but hopes to be fit for the Dutch TT at Assen in two weeks’ time.
“Unfortunately I had a crash at Turn 2, a highside, and I think my hand got stuck underneath the handlebar, just for a split second, but it was enough to take the skin back off an old injury from 2013,” he said.
“We went to hospital, cleaned the wound, made sure it’s as clean as possible, with no dirt inside.
“This morning, we visited the medical centre and as a complete group decided it was safer to sit out the GP as the risk of infection is really high.
“Hopefully in the next three or four days we’ll check the wound and decide if I need any plastic surgery, and if not I’ll be back fully fit and ready for Assen.”
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