Loris Baz forced to withdraw from Jerez

Loris Baz's 2013 World Superbike Championship season is over after he wasn't passed fit to ride in the final round of the year at Jerez.

The Frenchman has been nursing a back injury ever since an accident during pre-race warm-up at the Nurburgring six weeks ago, but while he was optimistic he would be passed fit to race in the final event of the year in Spain, a medical at the track would not go his way.

A frustratingly anti-climactic end to the year for Baz, particularly as he had passed three medicals prior to arriving in Jerez, a post on his personal Facebook page nonetheless suggests he will return World Superbikes next season, most probably with Kawasaki again.

"Finally not riding this weekend! The final decision is took by the medical staff here in Jerez and they said I couldn't ride. Three medical said yes in my home and here he said no! This is the life. Now 2013 is over let's think about 2014 and the winter tests! That's gonna be the year believe me bazooka will be in the top!!!" [sic]

His first full season in World Superbike racing, Baz had been a consistent performer in the run up to his injury, scoring a second career victory at Silverstone to put him in the fight for a top five finish in the overall standings.

He is currently eighth in the standings, just ahead of Jonathan Rea - who is also absent - and 18 points ahead of tenth place countryman Jules Cluzel.