Althea BMW rider Markus Reiterberger began his weekend in Misano in spectacular style, as the rookie set the second fastest lap on Friday during FP1 and FP2. After a more difficult qualifying and an impressive fightback to P6 in Race 1 as the German returned to the scene of his first WorldSBK wildcard experience, Race 2 proved a different story when a highside crash at Turn 8 on Lap 1 saw him suffer an early exit from the Race.

Although able to walk away from the scene of the incident unaided, the German was checked at the Medical Center at the track before then being transferred to Riccione hospital and subsequently diagnosed as having sustained a compression fracture of the D12 vertebra. The recovery period means the rookie will not be present at Laguna Seca in July, missing his first taste of the legendary American venue.

The summer break thereafter offers more time for recovery, with Reiterberger hoping to return to competition for his home Round at Lausitzring in September.