Two-time Canadian Superbike and Sport Bike Champion Pascal Picotte was taken to a local hospital for X-rays following a violent crash during AMA Superbike practice Sunday morning at Barber Motorsports Park. According to witnesses, Picotte was driving out of turn two and toward the turn three crest on his Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R6 when he lost rear traction and his bike began bucking wildly. Somewhere along the line, Picotte was thrown from the machine and tumbled to a stop on the track. As a result, the session was red flagged. Picotte, according to his crew, was taken to the hospital for X-rays on his knee and back. Picotte was participating in the AMA race weekend at Barber in preparation for his 2006 Parts Canada Superbike and Sport Bike campaigns. Privateer racer Nathan Hester also crashed his Yamaha YZF-R6 violently, during Saturday’s AMA Formula Xtreme race at Barber. According to AMA Pro Racing Superbike Media Manager, Hester was taken to a local hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken shoulder. More details will be posted as they become available. Update: Picotte suffered a fractured vertebra or vertebrae in his crash Sunday morning but no damage to his spinal cord or paralysis, according to his friend and manager Alan Labrosse.