Gowland out with broken collarbone

Graeme Gowland has been forced to withdraw from the second round of the ViSK.com British Superbike Championship after breaking his collarbone in a qualifying crash at Oulton Park.

The Henderson/Motorpoint Yamaha rider high-sided at Brittens on his first flying lap of the opening qualifying phase, landing on his shoulder and breaking the inside of his collarbone.

Already carrying a scaphoid injury in his wrist, Gowland was eager to get a quick lap in early so he could rest it for the remainder of the session. However, he admitted to pushing too hard and paying the price.

"I had a tough day," he told Crash.net Radio. "It was the first part of qualifying and I was trying to go as fast as I could at the beginning so I could get in and rest. However, I pushed a little bit too hard and I ended up high-siding straight down onto my right shoulder and broke my collarbone. Unfortunately it has put me out for the weekend.

"I wanted to try and get a fast lap in straight away. My fastest lap would have been enough to get through to the top twenty, so I wanted to do it in the first three or four laps and then sit the rest of the session out. It was my own fault, but I will have to learn by it."

Despite currently sporting a sling, with three weeks to go until the third round of the season at Donington Park, Gowland is confident he will be back racing again soon enough.

"This break doesn't feel as bad as last time. Hopefully when I get home I can get the sling off and get the thing moving. Fingers crossed, we should be alright for Donington."

Up until qualifying, Gowland had been running top ten pace, ahead of Rob Mac Racing team-mates Chris Walker and Michael Rutter.