A big crash by Tom Sykes has highlighted what appear to be problems with grip at Imola this morning as the first free practice session was stopped after just five minutes.

Sykes crashed on his second lap into the show chicane and is said to have injured his leg but was talking as he went to the medical centre for X-rays.

At 12.55pm, riders and team managers went into a meeting with FIM representative Claude Danis to decide what to do about the condition of the track. Today's action could be cancelled but there are options to either wash the track or for bikes just to go out and lap to lay down some rubber.

Speaking to bikesportnews.com from the pitlane, Ten Kate Honda's Jonathan Rea said: "I went out for a lap and it was so slippery. We're going round like it is wet. There is some sort of solution on the track and we need to find a way to wash it off."

"It's a nightmare, there is zero grip and you're sliding around in a straightline. You can't see anything on the surface but the track was cleaned all last night after a car race last weekend. It might be some sort of chemical," added Stiggy Honda's Leon Haslam.
15.15 Update: World Supersport free practice to start at 3.30pm, followed by Superbike free practice at 4.45pm BST. Tom Sykes is bruised but will ride.