MotoGP championship leader Dani Pedrosa fractured his collarbone in Saturday’s third practice session for the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring.
The Honda star, bidding for a fourth straight success at the circuit, failed to negotiate a bend and fell heavily on his shoulder.
He was taken to a mobile clinic where doctors detected a small collarbone fracture.
Organisers said he may race on Sunday if he feels fit enough.
Reigning world MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo is already out of Sunday’s showdown after the Yamaha rider suffered a heavy fall on Friday, damaging the collarbone he broke two weeks earlier in practice for the Dutch GP.
The impact bent the titanium plate fitted after his crash in Assen and he returned to Barcelona for further surgery.