KUALA LUMPUR: Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah's hopes of clinching a third points finish in Moto2 this season came to an explosive end after suffering a horrific crash at the Austrian Motorcycle Grand Prix yesterday.
In the lead up to the incident, Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) suffered a high-side crash in the fourth lap. He was able to walk away, but his bike remained in the middle of the track at the Red Bull Ring.
Hafizh, who started from 20th on the grid, was working his way up the field and had just pulled out of the slipstream of another rider when he went straight into Bastianini's bike.
The Inde Aspar Team rider was sent flying while his bike smashed to pieces. Hafizh was immediately sent to the medical centre at the circuit.
Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team principal Datuk Razlan Razali, who was at the track, said Hafizh appears to have escaped serious injury.
"Hafizh is conscious, but bruised. Otherwise, he is OK. He is still in the medical centre for further observation," said Razlan after the incident.
The race was immediately red-flagged and was shortened to 13 laps after the restart. Spaniard Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) went on to win the race.
After a slow start to the season in Qatar, Hafizh had appeared to be improving in form and had secured two top-10 finishes since then.
It is still early to say whether he will race at the Styrian GP, which will also be held at the Red Bull Ring, this week.