Buildbase BMW’s James Westmoreland won’t be on the starting grid for the next MCE British Superbike round at Brands Hatch. The rider broke the base of his right thumb during a crash in race two at Knockhill last week, and will miss the event at the GP circuit.

The Hull rider was at first ‘devastated’ not to be involved at the round in Kent, but understands that he has to take time out for his thumb to heal. He had an operation to fix the broken bone today, which was a success. But Westmoreland hopes to return for Thruxton to get his Showdown ambitions underway once again.

“I broke the base of my thumb at Knockhill, and there were some bones that were broken, and it was causing me a lot of pain. It is the worst thing to break as I need my right thumb for everything, especially when riding a bike,” said Westmoreland, speaking to bikesportnews.com this evening, after his operation.

“I am going to miss Brands Hatch, which at first left me feeling devastated. But I understand that I need time to heal properly as I don’t want this injury to affect my career. I have never missed a weekend in all my 20 years of racing.

“I am feeling much calmer about things as I have to think about my future. But the crash at Knockhill was my fault, but I am just concentrating on getting better. I will hopefully be back for Thruxton and that is my aim.”