Injuries hit Roberts & Capirossi

Capirossi had been chasing a third straight podium finish
Kenny Roberts and Loris Capirossi will miss Sunday's Australian MotoGP race after suffering injuries in Friday's practice sessions.
Capirossi came off his Ducati at speed on the first turn at Phillip Island.

Examinations revealed internal bruising too severe for the Italian to resume racing over the weekend.

Former world 500cc champion Roberts fractured his left wrist in the same practice session in a fall from his Suzuki and will also miss the race.

Ducati team chief Livio Suppo said: "Loris felt generally OK after the crash, but after a while he felt some pain in his chest.

"He underwent a scan that showed he had some internal bleeding in his right lung. He is having that bleeding drained and is expected to stay in hospital for two or three days."

Roberts said: "I thought initially there had been a mechanical failure, because I've never high-sided going 200kmph at the end of the straight like that before."

Valentino Rossi is attempting to win his fifth consecutive Australian race on Sunday, having already clinched his fifth straight MotoGP title.

The Italian produced a scintillating final lap to record the fastest time on Friday, clocking one minute 30.349 seconds to pip Carlos Checa by 0.270 secs.

Nicky Hayden, one of five riders in a tight tussle for second place in the championship, finished third-fastest with 1:31.016.

Only 11 points separates Italians Max Biaggi, Marco Melandri and Capirossi, and American duo Colin Edwards and Hayden.

There are two races to come after Australia, in Istanbul on 23 October, and in Valencia on 6 November.