Team Honda HRC’s Tim Gajser is recovering from a horrific crash in the Italian championships at Mantova overnight, undergoing surgery to repair to fractures in his jaw.

The 2016 MXGP world champion crashed heavily upon landing of a major over-jump, transported to the nearby Carlo Poma hospital to perform a series of evaluations and scans, which gave a clearer picture of his condition.

Gajser was conscious, interacting with the medical staff and showed full body movement as results from MRI scans to head and cervical spine were clear according to an update released by HRC. Further information on the 21-year-old is due to be released.

It was reigning world champion Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM) who claimed the victory and title in Italy ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha duo Romain Febvre and Jeremy Van Horebeek.

Meanwhile, in France at the Lacapelle-Marival International, Jeffrey Herlings (Red Bull KTM) won the MX1 class over Clement Desalle (Monster Energy Kawasaki) and Max Anstie (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), as Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda 114 Motorsports) topped MX2 from Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Jed Beaton (F&H Kawasaki Racing Team).

The 2018 MXGP World Championship series will commence in a couple of weeks’ time at Neuquen, Argentina, on 3-4 March.