Spaniard Hector Barbera highsided his Pramac Racing Ducati GP12 during Friday’s first MotoGP practice session at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and fractured three vertebrae in his back. Barbera was attempting to make an early return after he broke his tibia and fibula in his lower left leg during an accident while training July 20 in Spain. He had surgery to plate the fractures the next day and sat out the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca July 27-29. The 25-year-old was also planning to miss the Red Bull Indianapolis GP as well, according to a press release issued by his team, but at the last minute the team announced that Barbera would try to ride at Indianapolis and that Toni Elias, who filled in for Barbera at Laguna Seca, would be at Indianapolis on standby in case Barbera could not ride. Barbera rode for the first 30 minutes of MotoGP Free Practice One, but he then suffered a nasty highside, was thrown over his handlebars and landed on his head and back. The incident caused the session to be red flagged. Barbera was transported and later admitted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he was diagnosed with fractures to three vertebrae, according to a statement issued by Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Pramac Racing team has not issued any statements. We will report more details as they become available.