Avintia Ducati’s Hector Barbera has been sent to the back of the grid for today’s MotoGP race at Sepang following a clash with Pol Espargaro which left the Monster Yamaha man with a cracked vertebrae.

Race direction handed Barbera a penalty point which takes his total to four and an instant back-of-the-grid start. The clash, which team boss Herve Poncharal described as unprofessional, happened early on in warm-up when Barbera shoved his way under Espargaro at turn one.

Espargaro had to attend the medical centre where he was diagnosed a hairline fracture. He will race today but Poncharal; said his rider is in a lot of pain.