Rossi moments from devastating accident in shocking MotoGP smash

Franco Morbidelli and Johann Zarco have escaped serious injury after a horrific accident mid-way through the Austrian MotoGP, while Valentino Rossi will be counting his lucky stars after almost being struck by a wayward bike.

Morbidelli was chasing Zarco on the fast run uphill to the tight T3 almost 90-degree right hander, when he hit the back of the Ducati after seemingly misjudging the Frenchman’s sweep across to the right to defend the position.

Sending both riders down hard, due to the nature of the corner, both bikes carried on towards the track at the exit of Turn 3, though the riders stopped short of going beyond the inside gravel trap.

However, while Morbidelli’s Yamaha spiralled around spreading debris at the bend, Zarco’s Ducati remained full speed and upright until it caught the edge of the air barrier on the inside and was shot into the air and across the track right into the path of Rossi.

Replays from the back of Maverick Vinales shows a flash of a bike flying high-speed between himself and Rossi, with the Italian just inches from disaster. Footage later showed Rossi with his head in his hands as he pulled into the pits and shock on his face

As for Zarco and Morbidelli, the latter needed attention initially but both would make it back to the pit lane under their own speed.

The race itself was building up to be a classic before the red flag with Pol Espargaro leading at KTM’s home track, while Fabio Quartararo was last after a mistake.