Tamada out, van den Goorbergh in.

Following yet another medical examination, requested by Makoto Tamada himself, a fracture to the scaphoid bone in his right wrist has now been found - ruling the Japanese out of this weekend's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix.

As a result of the injury, Tamada will undergo surgery today (Wednesday) by Doctor Kawasaki at the Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital in Japan. Recovery time is predicted to around 2-3 weeks, also placing his participation in the following French Grand Prix in doubt.

"I have tried until the last moment, but when you have such pain there is nothing you can do about it. Today I will have surgery to my right hand with the hope that recovery time will be as short as possible. I will do all I can to be at the team disposal for the next grand prix in Le Mans," said a disappointed Tamada. "I wish good luck to Jurgen and to my Team for this weekend."

However, as mentioned by Tamada, the Konica Minolta Honda team will still be present at Shanghai this weekend, having also announced that former 250GP, 500GP and World Supersport rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh has been hired to take Tamada's place.

After being a WSS championship contender last season with Yamaha, the Dutchman split from his new for 2005 SLM Ducati team at last weekend's Valencia round, citing uncompetitive machinery. Honda WSBK riders Max Neukirchner and Chris Vermeulen were also rumoured to have been in contention for the ride, but this was denied by the team.

"I can't believe it! I have so much enthusiasm and thanks to the Konica Minolta Honda Team. I'm back to compete in the best category of bike racing against the best riders," said a thrilled Jurgen, who rode in the premier-class from 1997-2002 - the highlight of which was two pole positions in 1999.

"For me this is a completely new challenge. I have ridden in the 500 class and in Supersport for many years, therefore I consider myself well expert to take the Honda RC211V on good levels.

"Everybody will step on this track for the first time and I consider this one point less of disadvantage for me. Naturally I will not have much time but I will try to adapt to the bike in the four hours which will come before the race and then we'll see what happen," he added.

For team manager Luca Montiron the loss of Tamada ahead of the first Asian GP of the season has been a bitter blow, since the team were hoping the event would mark the return of their double 2004 race winner to the front of the field after a low key start to the 2005 world championship.

"A true pity for us and most of all for Makoto who wanted to redeem this not exciting beginning of the season," said the Italian. "After the last medical check up, doctors have banned him to ride a bike and today he will have to need surgery on his right hand.

"He really wanted to be present on the Chinese circuit, but now he will have to fully concentrate on rehabilitation because for us he is a rider who didn't demonstrated his true value until now. But this sort of things can happen in racing.

"The team, thanks to the trust of Honda and Konica Minolta didn't renounce to be present at the Chinese Grand Prix and the choice to aim our hopes to the experience of Jurgen van den Goorbergh it's not random.

"I believe that Jurgen have the competence and the necessary motivations to make every effort to do well, from our side we'll do our best to make him adapt in the quickest way possible to the power of the RC211V.

"Surely, in such a hard category as the MotoGP, it's not going to be easy. But the circuit is new to everybody and if we work hard in the four sessions previous the race, we can have a dignified race in the third round of the MotoGP 2005," concluded Montiron.