Spaniard Tony Elias has been nominated as the replacement for Hector Barbera at this weekend's Laguna Seca MotoGP round just two weeks after walking out on his Aspar Moto2 ride.

The former Gresini Honda man, who rode for Pramac a couple of seasons ago, will stand in for The Caravan as he recovers from surgery to pin the leg he broke in a motocross, erm, training accident on Sunday.

Barbera said after the surgery: "Obviously I’m disappointed about the incident. It happened in the worst period possible. I had a great feeling both with my bike and with my crew. In the last three races I was able to enjoy while I was riding and fighting with the Factory riders to achieve the best result possible.

"I could catch other brilliant results in the next round in Laguna Seca and Indy, but it’s the life and now I have to think only about my injury and my rehabilitation.”