Jeffrey Herlings has finally spoken out about his crash in Faenza and admitted he won’t be racing at Mantova in the next GP. The red plate holder at the time, he went down hard in practice at the Italian circuit and was airlifted to hospital.

He said: “It’s been pretty quiet around me lately and I am sorry for not giving an update to my fans since my crash. I can not describe how devastated it was being there on the ground temporarily paralysed and not having any feeling from my neck down for minimum half an hour. Eventually I ended up breaking my C1, C6 and T3.

“Doctors told me I got through the eye of the needle with not ending up paralysed. From the good side, I got 3 stable fractures with only small cracks in the bones and the healing process wont be too long luckily and doctors say I will get a full recovery from this injury.

“I was feeling I was more than 100% in control this season, accepting a 2nd place and felt more in control of the championship than ever. I feel like that I messed up for the 2nd season in a row, even I have the feeling there was nothing I can blame myself for, for this crash.

“I am sorry to all my sponsors and partners and fans for once again not being able to deliver a championship to them. And most of all I would like to thank my entire KTM team and crew for their patience and constant support towards me and their support through thick and thin. It’s been a very though last 2 seasons but I know I still got plenty to offer in this sport.

“For the moment the team and I have decided to sit out the next race in Mantova and look from there when exactly we will return to racing. I believe to become back healthy is the most important for now. Once again thanks to my team and partners for their great support. I will work hard to become back healthy again as soon as possible.”