Bayliss falls after clipping Xaus.

Troy Bayliss was in the thick of a hectic five-man skirmish for fifth in Sunday's Catalan Grand Prix when he fell heavily at turn four with just 4 of the 25 laps to go.

"There was a bit of a battle going on," said Bayliss. "I ended up touching the back end of Xaus' bike and down I went. It had been a tough race from the start because I'd been getting chatter from the first lap, but that could've been a good result for us."

Capirossi slides, Catalunya MotoGP, 2004
Capirossi slides, Catalunya MotoGP, 2004
© Gold and Goose

Troy Bayliss was in the thick of a hectic five-man skirmish for fifth in Sunday's Catalan Grand Prix when he fell heavily at turn four with just 4 of the 25 laps to go.

"There was a bit of a battle going on," said Bayliss. "I ended up touching the back end of Xaus' bike and down I went. It had been a tough race from the start because I'd been getting chatter from the first lap, but that could've been a good result for us."

Despite being thrown roughly through the gravel and requiring medical attention at the scene, an examination by the Clinica Mobile staff fortunately showed no broken bones. The Australian was however left badly battered and bruised, but still plans to test the new 'Twin-Pulse' engine alongside team-mate Loris Capirossi today (Monday).

Capirossi, winner one year ago, also had a tough event - falling in morning warm-up and being pushed off track in turn one of the race, which he then rejoined in last.

"The first-lap incident made my race very difficult," said Capirossi. "Someone touched me at turn four, pushing me off the track. I got going again but I was last, so I just pushed as hard as I could, lapping faster and faster. But tenth was the best I could do. Without that first lap the race would've been much better for me."

"I'm disappointed because today's results could have been so much better," said team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. "Loris was unlucky to get pushed off the track on the first lap. Troy was also unlucky - he was running very strong when he fell.

"These things happen in racing but despite one DNF and one tenth place I still feel that this could have been one of our best races this year because rhythm was good enough to have put both our riders to the top five or six," he claimed.

Read More