Monster Yamaha MotoGP rider Andrea Dovizioso has become the latest in a long line of riders to damage themselves riding motocross in the off-season with the Italian breaking his collarbone yesterday.

The former works Honda man announced his error on Twitter saying he had broken the bone in his right shoulder training. He said simply: "F**k, I broke my right collarbone doing motocross." Countryman Valentino Rossi was quick to Tweet back, wishing him and Nicky Hayden speedy recoveries.

Dovizioso now faces a battle to be anything like in shape for the first MotoGP test of 2012, which kicks off at Sepang on the last day of this month. Collarbones usually take up to six weeks to fully heal although it is more than possible to ride before then.