Baz could face sideline spell after Mugello crash

Baz, Jack Miller and Alvaro Bautista crashed out together on the opening lap of the Italian GP.

While Marc VDS rider Miller and works Aprilia man Bautista were unhurt, Baz was diagnosed with dislocations of the five metatarsophalangeal joints in his right foot, and diaphyseal fractures of four toes.

The dislocations were reset in the circuit medical centre, and he will undergo surgery in Geneva on Tuesday to insert plates to fix the fractures.

"I did a good start but it was a lot of traffic on the inside and it was difficult to overtake in the first turn, so I decided to get the outside line, but suddenly someone hit me and I crashed," said Baz.

"From the first moment I realised that my foot was broken."

He promised not to rush his return to racing but is eager to make sure he can participate in the post-race test at Barcelona next month.

"I don't know how long the recovery will take because it's a difficult place and can swell a lot," Baz said.

"I will follow the doctor's instructions because I don't want to come back too soon and take risks for the next races.

"More than the race I'll be disappointed if I can't do the test after the race in Barcelona, because I really need it."

Bautista accepted responsibility for the crash.

"In the warm-up lap the front brake felt strange, so I adjusted the lever before the start," he explained.

"When I got to the first turn I braked normally, but as I was leaning the bike into it I felt the wheel lock up and I crashed.

"First of all I want to apologise to Baz and Miller, who I involuntarily involved in my crash."

Baz was the second MotoGP rider to sustain an injury at Mugello, after Marc VDS's Tito Rabat broke his collarbone in a practice crash.

Rabat is scheduled for surgery in Barcelona on Monday, after which a decision about his Catalunya GP participation will be taken.