Video: Watch MotoAmerica racer Claudio Corti spit off in vicious highside

In motorcycle racing, there are highside crashes....and then there are vicious highside crashes. This one by HSBK Aprilia's Claudio Corti in Race One of the Barber Motorsports Park round of the MotoAmerica Championship most definitely qualifies as the latter. Corti was dicing with fellow MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 contenders Josh Herrin and Taylor Knapp when the Italian accidentally downshifted one gear too many in the decreasing radius Turn 16 at Barber. The resulting loss and then sudden gain of grip from his rear tire caused one of the most butt-clenching highsides we've ever seen on video.

Amazingly (and thankfully--showing how far motorcycle racing safety gear has advanced in the past decade), Corti did not suffer any broken bones or other major injuries, and the former MotoGP/Moto2 rider returned later that day to compete in the second Superbike/Superstock race. Corti showed true grit by finishing an amazing 8th overall (4th Superstock) in Race Two at Barber. “After 15 laps,” said Corti about the second race, “I was not able to breathe as I wanted because my ribs hurt. My thumbs hurt, my ankle hurt. I fought for the podium until the last corner, so I’m pretty satisfied. We lost the championship lead, but there are still a lot points to gain.”

Despite his current condition, Corti is looking forward to the next round of the MotoAmerica series at Utah Motorsports Park, June 23-25. “I can’t wait,” he said. “A couple days of resting then training.”