Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies crashed in yesterday's Estoril MotoGP encounter after having to make a running repair on his YZR-M1 broke his concentration.

A tool had been left attached to his bike as it exited pitlane and as he tried to remove it, a tube came loose and was flapping around in Spies' eyeline.

“I am bitterly disappointed with today. After a lot of hard work by the crew this weekend we started the race with a very competitive set up and I was feeling good. When I noticed the tool hadn’t been removed I tried to do it myself because it was right in there next to my brake lever," said the American.

"I managed to get it off but then this loose tube was flying around which was pretty scary. It really messed with my concentration as I was worried about taking out another rider in one of the corners and then I crashed. After the DNF at Jerez this was really frustrating as it was completely out of my control, nothing to it now but to move on and come back strong for Le Mans.”