James Toseland out for six weeks following operation

Toseland (left) sought a second opinion with a Manchester specialist

James Toseland will be out of action for at least six weeks following an emergency operation on his right wrist.

The Isle of Man resident sustained the injury when he crashed his S1000RR on the final day of testing with his BMW Motorrad Italia team at Aragon, Spain.

Toseland is still in hospital in Manchester and is hoping to return to the island on Thursday.

"The operation has gone well but it was just in the nick of time," said the 30-year-old.

The injury is devastating news for Toseland who will now miss two rounds of the World Superbike series but he told BBC Isle of Man it could have been a lot worse.

"Originally I had it X-rayed in Spain and it showed a small fracture, so they gave me the all clear to ride at Donington Park. Unfortunately the scan had failed to pick up on the main problem," the double world champion said.

At that point, things were getting critical as there was no blood flow in the wrist, meaning that the bone could die if I wasn't operated on immediately

James Toseland

"I was really pleased when I was told in Spain that I would be OK. But when I got back to the hotel, the pain in my right wrist was unbelievable and, considering that I had a race coming up in a week's time, I sent the scan on to a specialist I know in Manchester.

"From looking at the scan, he thought I'd be alright but, as he's a friend, he left a wedding anniversary party to come and check the wrist properly.

"They took a new X-ray from a different position in Manchester and found that I had badly displaced bones in my wrist. At that point, things were getting critical as there was no blood flow in the wrist, meaning that the bone could die if I wasn't operated on immediately.

"I had expected him to confirm that everything was alright and give me the all-clear, so it came as a bit of a shock, to be honest. I guess I've been lucky, but it's a massive disappointment from a racing point of view. I'm so sorry to everybody who has continued to support me."

The Yorkshire rider has wires in the wrist that cannot be removed for at least six weeks, but is hopeful of a return to the Italian round of the World Superbike series at Monza in May.

"It is brilliant to receive so many messages and hopefully I will back as soon as possible," he added.