Red Bull Honda confirms O’Halloran leg fracture

Jason O’Halloran has suffered a right lower leg fracture on his World Superbike debut standing in for Leon Camier at Red Bull Honda.

The Australian rider was drafted into the factory Honda squad from FP3 at Imola after Camier was forced to withdraw from the race weekend due to pain from his previous injury of three broken ribs suffered last month at the Aragon round.

Despite just two short free practice sessions to get up to speed for his World Superbike race debut at a circuit he’d never competed at before, O’Halloran outqualified teammate Jake Gagne but his race was ended on lap two in a heavy high side crash at entry to the Villeneuve chicane.

The BSB regular for Honda Racing sustained a right lower leg fracture and was taken to hospital in Imola to receive treatment.

“This is such a shame for him and we hope he makes a full and speedy recovery,” Kervin Bos, Red Bull Honda team manager, said. “I travelled with Jason to the hospital and despite the injury he's doing well and he impressed the team with his performance on the bike this weekend. Overall a tough day, but we'll be back showing our fighting spirit tomorrow.”

O’Halloran now faces a face against time to return to full fitness for the remainder of the BSB season which resumes for round four at Snetterton on June 16-18.

The Australian rider becomes the latest name to suffer a serious injury competing for the luckless Red Bull Honda squad following both Camier and Gagne, who both missed the Assen round last time out. The squad was hampered by injury issues last year with Stefan Bradl plus the tragic death of Nicky Hayden in a road cycling accident.