World championship MotoGP leader Dani Pedrosa suffered a heavy fall in Saturday’s third practice session for the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring.

The Spanish Honda star, bidding for a fourth straight success at the circuit, injured his collarbone after he failed to negotiate a bend and fell heavily on his shoulder. He was quickly taken to a mobile clinic to undergo a check-up.

Reigning world MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo is already out of Sunday’s showdown after the Yamaha rider on Friday suffered a heavy fall which came just two weeks after he fractured his collarbone during practice for the Dutch GP.

This time, the Spaniard fell again during the second practice session and landed on the damaged area.

Organisers said the titanium plate fitted after his crash in Assen was bent, causing him intense pain and he flew to Barcelona where he was on Saturday due to undergo surgery.