A huge Moto3 crash occurred earlier today during the sighting (formation) lap prior to the race at Sepang, Malaysia, leaving two riders seriously injured.
Noah Dettweiler was riding slowly on the racing line, presumably due to engine problems, when Jose Antonio Rueda overlooked the Swiss rider and drove into him at full speed.
The impact was enormous: both riders were launched from their bikes, with considerable debris strewn across the circuit.
Both riders had to be treated at the scene by the medical personnel present, after which they were transported to hospital.
MotoGP announced through its official channels moments later that both riders were at least conscious. However, nothing more was disclosed at the time.
It has since emerged that Rueda's condition is less serious than Dettweiler's, according to Swiss publication Blick, which has reported that the Spaniard has a concussion and a broken hand.
Dettweiler's team, CIP Green Power, released a statement a short while ago: "This morning, during the sighting lap at Sepang, our rider Noah Dettwiler was involved in a serious accident. He was taken to the hospital in Kuala Lumpur and will need to undergo multiple surgeries.
"He is in good hands, and we kindly ask you to respect his privacy. We will not be sharing further details at this time.
"Noah is a true fighter, and the entire CIP Green Power team is right behind him. We will keep you updated as soon as possible."
Blick has also reported that it has spoken to Dettweiler's father, Andy, who is now travelling to Malaysia with his wife, Nicole, and said: "They were fighting for his life."
According to Blick: "The 20-year-old is now in stable condition in the hospital. But it's too early to give the all-clear. He suffered multiple cardiac arrests and lost a lot of blood. His spleen and lungs were also affected. He also has an open fracture in his leg."
RacingNews365 wishes Noah Dettweiler and Jose Antonio Rueda a speedy recovery.
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