Jonathan Rea is set to contest the second round of the World Supersport Championship at Phillip Island despite suffering a finger injury in a fall at Losail.
The former BSB rider, who had qualified in fourth place on the grid despite a fall in qualifying, was running in second when the race kicked off before he suffered a highside and went down again, taking Hannspree team-mate Andrew Pitt with him.
It left the Northern Irishman with damage to his right hand although he insists he will still line-up on the grid for the second round of the campaign in Australia.
"I think I got on the gas too early and I am still learning the tyres and how they work in Supersport," he said. "I have some tendon damage to my finger and I have decided not to have it operated on and go to Phillip Island for the race next week."
The incident also left Pitt somewhat battered after he was left with nowhere to go to avoid Rea's falling machine, leaving the Australian to wonder what might have been.
"I'm all right, it was a bit scary and I'm battered and bruised," he said. "I was about 20cm behind him when Jonathan high sided and then there was his bike lying on the road in front of me. I just hit it flat out and went over the handlebars.
"It's shame because it was the first time that the bike has felt good all weekend and I had good rhythm. I got a good start and I was right there. Now we just need to get qualifying sorted out because we would have had no problem in the race."
