Kawasaki's Loris Baz has been forced to withdraw from the Istanbul World Superbike round after final medical checks at the circuit show some damage to his D4 vertebrae.

It is thought the damage may be an old injury and not as a result of his massive morning warm-up crash at the Nurburgring but he doesn't want to take any chances.

"My injuries are getting better and better but to make sure, to not take any risk, we have all decided it is better not to ride here. There will be a new scan on the affected area soon and if there is no change in the condition it means that the fracture is old," said the Fremnchman.

"If there is evidence of it healing it means that it is fresh, so we will see this before I go to America for the next round. If I had a broken leg I would race - with the back it is too much of a risk. Even if I was trying to be careful you can still crash. Also, if I ride to be careful I could lose the good feeling I have had with the bike. When we are sure I am OK then I can restart at the same high level as I was riding at in qualifying at the Nürburgring.”