MOTOGP star Alex Marquez broke his neck and was rushed to the hospital after a horror crash at the Catalan Grand Prix
Marquez, 30, drove into race leader Pedro Acosta midway through the 12th lap of 24 and spun wildly out of control.
Spaniard Acosta’s bike suddenly lost power with fellow countryman Marquez close behind, leading to the incident.
BK8 Gresini Racing ace Marquez clipped the back of Acosta’s rear wheel and then went off course.
He veered off the track and hit a bump in the grass, leaving his bike to fly into the air and cartwheel forward.
Marquez himself was sent sprawling, hitting the ground hard, face-first, ting and sliding away.
His bike was shattered into pieces, and some of the debris struck Fabio Di Giannantonio, who entered the turn seconds later.
Italian Di Giannantonio also tumbled off his own bike at the first corner of the lap and slid across the track.
A red flag was issued, and the race was stopped entirely so that debris could be cleared and Marquez could be treated urgently by medics.
He was looked after by the side of the track, where he lay on the floor.
Marquez was then sent to the hospital to be checked further after a helicopter transferred him from the Barcelona circuit.
He later wrote on social media alongside a pic of him putting a thumbs up to the camera whilst in bed with a neck brace on.
Marquez said: “Everything under control!! Time to go into the operating room tonight, but I couldn’t be in better hands.
“Huge thanks to everyone for your concern and for the loving messages I’m receiving.”
Acosta was helped back to the pit by two other drivers, with his bike losing power.
He had tried to warn those behind him ahead of the initial crash, but it was not successful, as Marquez was so close.
Marquez was confirmed by his team as being conscious but did not restart the race.
It was reported that he spoke to his mum in hospital with further updates, saying he suffered a fracture to the C7 vertebrae in his lower neck and will require surgery on his right clavicle as well.
Soon after things got underway from lap 13 – with positions taken from lap 11 – there was another giant crash.
