One of the main reasons why front brake prote꧒ctors were finally made mandatory for the 2012 MotoGP seas💦on can be traced back to this shocking incident at Catalunya in 2006.

The accident began when Sete Gibernau tangled with factory Ducati team-mate Loris Capirossi as they braked for turn one; the Spaniard being sent flying over the handlebars after contact was made𓆉 with his front bra🐼ke lever (see below for more pictures).

That impact then caused world championship leader Capirossi to veer sideways into Marco Melandri - with the two Iꦦtalians f🥂alling and hitting the back of Dani Pedrosa and John Hopkins ahead of them, meaning a total of six riders and machines tumbled into the gravel trap at high speed

When the dust had cleared Gibernau was amazingly able to walk away, but both Capirossi and Melandri were lying motionless. Capirossi soon regained conscio🔯usness, while Melandri was carried off on a stretch⛄er.

Melandri was later diagnose💮d with a collarbone dislocation, mild concussion a🧔nd a multitude of minor injuries. Capirossi suffered chest injuries, while Gibernau required surgery for a fractured collarbone.

In an scene that summed-up Gibernau's luck at Marlboro Ducati༒, the ambulance taking him to hospita꧙l was involved in an accident with a bus just 50 metres from the hospital entrance.

Amazingly, Capirossi - tied with Hayden at the top of the standings heading into the seventh round - and Melandri (who had been third in the championship with two wins) wer🐷e back on track just days later at Assen and scored points in the race.

But with hindsigh🐼t their 2006 title hopes ended in the Catalunya gravel.

The restarted Catalan race saw Yamaha's Valentino Rossi take victory over title rival Nicky Hayden (Honda), while former champion🎉 Kenny Roberts Jr put Team Roberts onಞ the podium in third.

The fift﷽h round of the 2012 MotoGP World Championship takes place at Catalunya this weekend.