FIM MotoGP World Championship Medical Team Report

Today, the Medical Team from the FIM MotoGP World Championship and the Medical Team of the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya reached the scene of an incident involving Spanish Moto2 rider Luis Salom at turn 12 during the second practice session for Moto2 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Upon arrival, the rider was in cardiac arrest. Considering the severity of his condition, the MotoGP World Championship medical team proceeded with securing the airways through orotracheal intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at trackside.

He was then secured with a neck brace and medical staff then introduced two intravenous lines and proceeded with chest compressions.

From arriving at the scene, it was quickly established that Salom was asystolic (in cardiac arrest). He was then administered with medications to cardiopulmonary and hemodynamically stabilise him.

CPR continued at the trackside for 18 minutes, but taking into consideration Salom’s life threatening condition, a decision was taken to transport him by road in an ambulance.

Treatment continued for an additional 40 minutes during the ambulance transfer, but oxygen saturation deteriorated.

Medical staff proceeded with bilateral needle thoracostomy with air and blood aspiration. During the transfer they pre-alerted the Hospital General de Catalunya informing its ICU team about the evolution of Salom’s condition.

Salom arrived at the Hospital General de Catalunya at 1610 and he was immediately moved to the emergency ward where CPR continued from the medical team on site.

Once in the Hospital General de Catalunya, Salom was moved to theatre to undergo an explorative laparotomy from the surgical team.

The patient was declared deceased at 1655. Both the ground evacuation procedure, transport to the Hospital General de Catalunya, and the reception at the hospital was of the highest standard.

Dr. Angel Charte

MotoGP Medical Director