Ruben Xaus breaks his leg on the opening lap of race one at Brno.

Xaus: broken leg in Brno

Xaus who was running seventh, fell on the exit of the right-hand hairpin. The Spaniard was launched into the gravel trap while his bike continued to flip behind him. A trip to the medical centre revealed a break in the top of Xaus's right leg, which appeared to get caught in the gravel as he came down. He said: "Finally we were getting somewhere and then I crash! I guess that maybe the tyre was a bit too hard and a bit too cool. "I didn't highside, I just fell off. I was sliding along and hit some deep gravel and that spun my right leg round and that's when the damage was done." Xaus will return to hospital in Barcelona for further tests, but remains positive about his chances of being ready for Nurburgring in five weeks time.

"I want to be positive and say that at least the injury has happened when we are about to have five weeks or so off and that will give me time to recover. I can't wait to get back on my bike and carry on with the recent improvements."

Xaus had qualified in his best position so far this season, starting on the BMW in seventh.