Motorsport: Stoner's MotoGP crash to be investigated

The crash which sent Australian Casey Stoner sliding out of the Spanish grand prix last weekend will be investigated by MotoGP officials.

Stoner was taken out during the wet race at Jerez by Italian Valentino Rossi, who was attempting a rash overtaking move.

Both riders fell but there was fury from Stoner and others later when track marshals pushed Rossi's Ducati back onto the track and ignored Stoner.

The marshalls could be seen en masse helping Rossi while Stoner was left remonstrating and appealing for assistance.

MotoGP race direction have announced that they will hold a hearing to discuss the crash, according to the authoritative motorcyclenews.com website.

Officials will meet with the clerk of the course and the chief marshal at the next round of the championship at Estoril in Portugal on April 28.

Rossi immediately walked to Stoner's garage and apologised to the Australian, who lost his world championship lead in the crash.

Race winner and hometown hero Jorge Lorenzo was also severely critical of the track marshals.

"There is no way that Valentino wanted to crash," Lorenzo said. "It can happen to anybody, it could happen to me also.

"Casey didn't do anything bad for this crash and he was riding very well and he didn't deserve this.

"Somebody told me the marshals helped Valentino and not Casey and this for sure I don't like.

"I would like that these things are done impartially and not like this.

"But in this moment the marshals are also nervous and it is difficult to react in the perfect way sometimes," Lorenzo said.

- AAP