Willie van Wessel breaks his thighbone in France.

During last practice for the International Motocross of Beaucaire [Thursday], Willie van Wessel had a big crash which resulted in the Dutch rider breaking his thigh bone.

The injury means that Van Wessel will miss the first Dutch Open (10th March) and the start of the 2002 World Championship.

Van Wessel will have an operation in a local hospital before returning to the Netherlands.

Van Wessel was teamed with Leon Giesbers in the Care-TuMic-Honda Team to compete in the 2002 World 500cc Championship on a Honda CR450F.