McWilliams withdraws from Qatar Grand Prix.

Jeremy McWilliams has been forced to withdraw from this afternoon's season-opening Qatar Grand Prix due to the effects of his qualifying fall.

The Ilmor rider suffered a spectacular highside at the end of Friday's qualifying session, immediately raising fears for the state of his femur - which he broke during testing in November.

Initial medical checks and positive comments from McWilliams himself suggested a lucky escape, and that he would be able to race, but the Ulsterman then missed morning warm-up and it appears that the already sore limb was indeed damaged in the accident - forcing his reluctant withdraw from the race.

McWilliams had qualified 20th out of the 21 riders, beating team-mate Andrew Pitt, who will now be Ilmor's only rider in Saturday afternoon's race.