PHILLIP ISLAND: Title contender Jorge Martin was ruled out of Sunday's Australian MotoGP with a fractured arm, dealing a massive blow to his world championship hopes.
The Spanish Aprilia rider came off his bike at high-speed during Saturday's sprint race while challenging eventual winner Marc Marquez for the lead on lap eight, sliding through the gravel.
He was taken to the circuit medical centre following the crash with Aprilia saying he had been "declared unfit" to race on Sunday.
"The x-rays revealed a fracture of the radius and a suspected fracture of the ulna at the distal end," the team said in a statement, referring his forearm near the wrist.
"Martin will undergo further examinations to reach a definitive assessment of his condition."
Victory for Ducati's Marquez put him 10 points clear of Martin in the standings ahead of the final MotoGP around the waterfront Phillip Island circuit on Sunday.
Whether the race goes ahead remains to be seen with poor visibility at the track delaying the final warm-up.
There are four legs of the season left after Australia, with the Malaysian MotoGP next weekend.