MotoGP: Casey Stoner Questionable for Indianapolis GP

UPDATE: An MRI has confirmed the ligament damage to Stoner’s ankle, but has also determined that his foot and leg is not fractured. He will undergo further tests before he is to be declared fit, or unfit, to race.

With only eight minutes on the clock for MotoGP’s qualifying session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Casey Stoner found himself on the wrong side of a nasty high-side crash, which ultimately sent the Repsol Honda rider into Indy’s medical center. Stretchered off the red-flagged track, Stoner has a suspected torn ligament in his right foot, which will surely dash his hopes for competing at the Indianapolis GP.

With over 200 points still up for grabs in the 2012 MotoGP Championship, Stoner’s suspected absence from racing will have dire consequences on his hopes to retain the #1 plate beyond his retirement at the end of this season. Fast all week at Indianapolis, Stoner’s crash was just one of many at the American track, which also saw Hector Babera’s weekend cut-short, as the Spaniard high-sided in the final turn on Friday.

Ben Spies would be caught out at the final turn as well, also high-siding, though would return to the session after its second red flag. That second stoppage in the session was due to, Nicky Hayden, who also joined the high-side club in the final turn, suffering perhaps the worst crash of the group, as he appeared to be knocked-out cold during the fall. With a number of riders in the support classes having similar crashes in the final turns, one has to wonder if there was a common thread between the incidents.