Pata Honda rider Leon Haslam is on his way to hospital with a broken leg after crashing in the final minutes of the first World Superbike free practice session at Assen this morning. Wife Oli confirmed the injury and said they are travelling to Gronigen to see a surgeon who will operate on the left tibia and fibula (see x-ray below).

The rider, who hails from Smalley, was churning out some consistent lap times before he crashed on turn seven out on the wet track. At one point he was way up the time sheets competing with fellow Brit, Kawasaki Racing’s Tom Sykes, at the Circuit Van Drenthe. But before he crashed he was fifth fastest and clocked a time of 2’01.112.

After Haslam’s accident, the session was red flagged, with less than four minutes remaining, and the rider was sent to the medical centre for treatment.