PICS: Stoner highsides in Assen practice

The Repsol Honda team suffered a nightmare start to Friday morning practice for the Dutch MotoGP when all three of its riders suffered big accidents within the space of a few minutes.

First to tumble was world championship leader Casey Stoner (see below for more pictures), followed swiftly by Andrea Dovizioso (at the same turn) and then stand-in Hiroshi Aoyama.

Stoner and Aoyama walked away, but Dovizioso was taken to the medical centre with a toe injury, before also returning to the track.