Haydon's hand smashed as Lavilla proves worth.

Wrigley's Airwaves Ducati team manager Colin Wright has told Crash.net Radio today at the first round of the 2005 Bennetts British Superbike championship at Brands Hatch that team rider James Haydon's hand was smashed in a preseason accident last week.

The accident happened during a warm-down lap whilst the team practiced at the Spanish circuit of Albecete.

"On the surface it doesn't look too bad," commented Wright. "Some of the smaller bones on the left side of his hand were actually smashed the doctors couldn't actually plate or pin it. So the doctors have said it is a wait and see situation, which is obviously not ideal for us. We are monitoring it pretty closely and he is already having physio to get movement back, but we'll have to wait till closer to Thruxton to make a decision."

Haydon has temporarily been relplaced by the ex-Factory Suzuki rider Gregorio Lavilla, who was set to ride for the Rizla Suzuki team if John Reynolds was not fit enough.

Lavilla has already proved his worth by finishing the two practice sessions at the first round of the championship inside the top ten, despite having very little experience on Ducati machinery, and even less experience of the Brands Hatch circuit.

"When I spoke to him on Tuesday of this week," continued Wright, "he said he would love the opportunity. I think he has been a good choice and he has proved that this morning (by finishing seventh in the first practice session)."