Pedrosa breaks ankles in Phillip Island fall.

Less than a week ago, Dani Pedrosa was crying tears of joy as he took his first ever 125cc world championship by winning the Malaysian Grand Prix, but this morning in Australia the 18-year-old was in tears for a different reason as he broke both ankles in a nasty free practice fall.

The damage to Dani's lower legs occurred when his Telefonica Movistar Honda hit the left hand tyre wall hard, just after Lukey Heights, on his seventh lap of the ultra-fast Phillip Island circuit. After initial treatment at the scene, the Spaniard was stretchered away by marshals and later flown to hospital in Melbourne.

Pedrosa's mentor Alberto Puig saw his own GP career end prematurely after suffering leg injuries - although it fortunately appears that Dani will face no such worries, he did need immediate surgery for a 'complicated' break in one leg.

Pedrosa looks set to move to the 250cc class next season, with continued support from Puig, Telefonica and Honda.