Recent Moto2 World Championship debutant Carlos Tatay has suffered serious injuries after being involved in an accident during the latest round of the FIM Moto2 European Championship at Portimao.

The Spaniard - a podium winner at Moto3 level - made his Moto2 World Championship debut just over a fortnight ago with the American Racing team after being called up to deputise for the injured Rory Skinner at Sachsenring and Assen.

However, on his return to the European series he was leading coming into the latest round held around the Portuguese venue, a fall at first corner led to him impacting the wall.

After being treated by medical crews at the circuit, Tatay was taken to hospital to undergo emergency surgery on what is understood to be a back injury. 

The most recent update from the SAG Racing Team Tatay competes with says the surgery is now complete and further assessments are taking place while he is placed under observation.

Tatay’s incident comes after he made a strong impression in the two races he started with American Racing in place of Skinner, the Scot having picked up a foot injury in two separate crashes at Mugello.

Proving a match for the team’s regular racer Sean Dylan Kelly, Tatay got closest to scoring American Racing’s first points of the year with a run to 17th in Assen.