MOTOGP star Francesco Bagnaia was stretchered off the track and rushed to hospital after a terrifying crash in Qatar.

The horrifying moment unfolded on the first lap of the sprint race, the day before Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Bagnaia, 29, came a cropper when Fermin Aldeguer smashed into the back of his Ducati.

The collision caused the back of Bagnaia’s bike to slide out and then whip back, sending the Italian hurtling through the air.

Bagnaia flew several feet before landing on his back and sliding along the tarmac.

The 31-time Grand Prix winner was conscious as he was stretchered away by marshals.

But it later emerged that he had suffered broken bones in his right foot, requiring surgery.

Ducati explained in a statement: “Francesco Bagnaia has sustained double fractures to the fourth and fifth metatarsals of his right foot.

“He will return to Italy to undergo surgery to fix the injury. The operation is expected to take place between Monday and Tuesday.”

Bagnaia posted an encouraging Instagram update which was liked over 100,000 times.

It read: “I will be right back guys.

“Unfortunately, sometimes, no matter how hard you try to turn things around, they just don’t go your way. And there’s nothing you can do about it.

“Thank you for all your messages. I’m okay.”

Bagnaia sits ninth in the MotoGP standings having taken four podiums and 173 points this season.

The experienced rider has two world titles on his CV from 2022 and 2023.

But he is poised to watch Ducati team-mate Marc Marquez clinch his EIGHTH crown at the season’s penultimate race in Portugal later this month.