Injury forces Laverty out of Donington WorldSBK after practice

Eugene Laverty is out of this weekend's Donington Park World Superbike accident after deciding he doesn't quite have the fitness levels to race on this weekend.

The Irishman was slowest of the 18 riders in both FP1 and FP2, but though he did prove considerably quicker in afternoon session the decision was taken not to put more stress on his wrist injuries.

The Go Eleven Ducati rider has been out of action since Imola after an accident at the Italian venue left him with fractures in both wrists, with the right wrist proving a complicated heal process.

With Donington Park proving one of the more physical circuits on the calendar for the right-hand side of the body, Laverty  admits he was too much of an ask for his wrist to do anything other than ride but not competitively.

"It was tough" he said. "This morning it was really difficult with the standard throttle, that was fucking tough because I was having to turn it to move and then finish it with my thumb. I was able to ride around this morning then we went for the short throttle this afternoon which was much better on the exit.

"Then I pushed, but when I pushed that was the difference between trying to do 5 laps this morning and only 2 laps in the afternoon. The mobility, I can't extend it, I knew the nature of the track will be tough. I had always planned to come back for Laguna, it was always 50/50 here.

"I said I'd only come back when I am ready and when you are a rider you think you are ready. I needed to try it, because if I was here and I was thinking I could have ridden that is the worst feeling. I needed to give it a go.