Miller out of Motegi with broken leg

Jack Miller will miss next weekend's Japanese MotoGP at Motegi after fracturing his right tibia in a training accident.

Miller was riding a trials bike near his European base in Andorra on Friday when he fractured the top of the tibia as he put his right foot down to save a slow front-end crash - a very similar scenario to Valentino Rossi's recent leg fractures, while training on an enduro bike.

Miller out of Motegi with broken leg

Jack Miller will miss next weekend's Japanese MotoGP at Motegi after fracturing his right tibia in a training accident.

Miller was riding a trials bike near his European base in Andorra on Friday when he fractured the top of the tibia as he put his right foot down to save a slow front-end crash - a very similar scenario to Valentino Rossi's recent leg fractures, while training on an enduro bike.

The Australian immediately travelled to the Hospital Universitari Dexeus in Barcelona, where he underwent surgery on Saturday morning. A plate and eight screws were inserted to stabilise the fracture.

Miller already has some mobility in the injured leg and will head back to Andorra today (Monday) to start an intense program of physiotherapy designed to get him back on the bike for his home Australian Grand Prix, at Phillip Island in just over two weeks time.

"Obviously I'm both disappointed and frustrated to have to sit out the Japanese Grand Prix through an injury sustained while training, especially as it wasn't even a crash!" said the Marc VDS Honda rider.

"We were out trials riding and I put a foot down when I lost traction from the front tyre. Nine times out of ten that would have been the end of the story, especially at such a low speed, but this time I must have caught my foot on something and ended up fracturing my right tibia close to the knee.

"The injury has been stabilised with a plate and screws and I already have some movement, but it's clear that I won't be fit for Motegi. However, I am determined to be back on the bike at Phillip Island and that's what I'll be working towards now with the physiotherapist."

Practice at Phillip Island starts on October 20th, which is 21 days after Miller's accident. The Malaysian round is the weekend after.

Rossi - who suffered displaced fractures of his right tibia and fibula - made an early return to MotoGP action 22 days after his injury. The Italian stunned by qualifying on the front row the following day and went on to finish a fighting fifth in the Aragon race.

Miller's team principal Michael Bartholemy stated: "Jack was extremely unfortunate to end up with a fractured tibia from such a seemingly innocuous incident; it was just bad luck.

"The timing is also unfortunate, as we're about to head overseas for three races in as many weekends, but Jack is adamant that he will miss only next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi. His aim is to be back on the bike for his home race at Phillip Island and the prognosis is good.

"He will work now with a physiotherapist to increase mobility in the injury and, together with his doctors, we will make a decision on whether he is fit to ride in Phillip Island immediately after the Japanese Grand Prix."

Miller, who is currently twelfth in the world championship, will leave Honda for Ducati at the end of this season.

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