Max Neukirchner will have just a single chance to return to World Superbike competition before the end of the season after being ruled out of the penultimate round at Magny-Cours.

The German has been sat on the sidelines since breaking his leg at Monza in May and then injuring his back in a further accident shortly before his scheduled return to the series in July.

Neukirchner had originally set himself the target of getting back on the Suzuki Alstare for the French round, but a visit to the Clinica Mobile at Imola has prompted him to take a safe approach for the time being.

With only one more round remaining after Magny-Cours, Neukirchner could line up on the grid for Portimao, or simply focus on getting fully fit again for the 2010 season.

“I am sorry to miss another race, but I understand that my back is not quite ready yet. Of course, it is very frustrating coming to a race track and not racing, but that's how it is for now. I would like to wish all the best to Yukio and Karl and hope that they can get good results in Magny-Cours this weekend.”

Neukirchner's absence means Karl Muggeridge will continue to line-up alongside Yukio Kagayama, the pair eager to build on the positives of the Imola event having made the decision to switch to Ohlins suspension.

“I am looking forward to working with our new suspension in Magny-Cours because already I have a better feeling with my bike,” Kagayama said. “So far, we have managed to find a pretty good set-up for the front end, so now most of the work is on the rear end.

“If we can sort that out early in practice, then I feel sure we can do well in qualifying. Sometimes racing is a frustrating business, but I am positive that we can improve in Magny-Cours and then again in Portimao.”