Injury forces newcomer Rins out of Jerez test

MotoGP rookie Alex Rins is set to miss next week's test at Jerez in Spain following a huge spill during the final day of the official test at Valencia.

Ecstar Suzuki rider Rins was caught out at Turn 12 after losing the front-end of the GSX-RR. The young Spaniard escaped serious injury, but suffered 'lesions on thoracic vertebra T8 and T12'. Rins, who could be forced to take a month out, will remain in hospital for further medical assessment and is likely to be transferred to Barcelona on Thursday for further medical checks.

"It was a pity to crash early today because I was eager to improve the feeling with the bike and we were following the correct work plan with the team," said Rins.

"I'm disappointed because this test was important to find out the first impressions and to get confidence with the bike, but unfortunately we can't change what was happened. Now it's time to come back home, take some rest and then think about the pre-season.

"I would like to thank all the Team Suzuki Ecstar members for the kindness to me during these set-up days and for all the work they did to show me the best way to kick-off in the MotoGP world."

Rins' team-mate, Andrea Iannone, also came off at the same corner but was able to continue afterwards, despite hurting his elbow. Iannone and
Suzuki Test Team Rider Takuya Tsuda will participate in the test at Jerez next week.

Testing at Valencia was halted for an hour following the incidents at Turn 12 on Wednesday.