Updated: Richards crashes, taken to hospital

HM Plant Honda's Glen Richards has suffered a suspected broken right femur following qualifying today at Knockhill, ahead of the sixth round of the 2009 ViSK.com British Superbike Championship.

The accident occurred in the third and final session, when there was 'an incident' at Real Radio Hairpin involving Richards and Relentless Suzuki's Ian Lowry.

Lowry escaped unhurt and re-joined the action on his spare bike, but Richards was not so lucky and required medical attention. He was later taken to Queen Margaret hospital in Dunfermline.

Lowry meanwhile said he had no explanation for the crash.

"I really don't know what happened to be honest, I just heard a screech of the tyres and then a bang and down I went," he told the official BSB website.

"I am not really injured, just a sore knee and back but other than that I think I was quite lucky.

"It is a bit disappointing as that session was going well, but we will now have to just wait and see what happens tomorrow."

"It's a total shame what happened to both riders today," added Lowry's Relentless Suzuki team boss, Philip Neill. "Ian had been posting good enough times for the front row on his 2009 GSX-R1000 Superbike in the final 'Roll for Poll' session, but was unfortunately taken out by Glen Richards' Honda.

"HM Plant Honda boss Havier Beltran phoned me straight away and apologised, but we would like to wish Glen a speedy recovery from a serious leg injury sustained in the incident."