Image: Supplied.

After a heavy crash during Saturday’s qualifying race in Portugal, Kawasaki Racing Team’s Mathis Valin has avoided any major injuries, with further scans set to determine the full extent of any damage.

The Frenchman crashed out of the lead after a sizeable overjump pitched him over the bars, prompting officials to red-flag the encounter. He eventually left the circuit under his own power wearing a neck brace as a precaution.

While medical examinations on Saturday revealed no major injuries, Valin and the team elected to sit out Sunday’s racing, with further evaluation set to determine his status for this weekend’s South African round.

“I’m just glad I’m okay and happy to be on two feet,” commented Valin. “It was a big one, and I’m lucky it wasn’t worse. It was my own mistake, but my neck’s a bit stiff, so I’m wearing a neck brace as a precaution. I’m going for further medical examinations and hope to be in South Africa next weekend.”

It marks a tough setback in the 19-year-old’s second MX2 campaign, with Valin having claimed a maiden overall victory in Germany before recently signing a multi-year contract extension with the team.

His withdrawal in Portugal drops him to seventh in the MX2 standings after 10 rounds, with the championship continuing in South Africa this weekend before a short break ahead of the MXGP of Great Britain on July 19.