 Although making rapid gains, in the Catalan GP, he took out Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales and Andrea Dovizioso while making a hairpin corner pass in early race traffic.At the Assen GP, Lorenzo suffered a tumble in the gravel during the first practice session and fractured a vertebra which eliminated him from race contention.He subsequently missed the next three rounds in recovery, and upon return claimed to be riding under duress of intense pain.