Image: Supplied.

Tom Vialle’s withdrawal from Matterley Basin’s second round of the 2021 MXGP World Championship has been explained, the reigning champion battling injury following a bizarre mid-week crash with another rider.

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing entry attempted to push through the first practice session, however pulled out of the day after experiencing too much pain in his injured right hand.

It’s understood the former points leader crashed head-on with a rider while practicing in the lead-up to Matterley Basin, which has understandably frustrated the 20-year-old world champion.

“I had a crash training on Wednesday with another rider that hit me head-on,” Vialle explained. “I’m annoyed because it was not my fault. I’m a bit injured but it’s not so bad. I think I need just a few more days. I had pain and we wanted to play safe – it was better to miss today and think instead to Italy.”

After missing the weekend’s pair of motos, Vialle sits eighth in the championship standings as the series heads to Maggiora in Italy on 4 July.