The 19-year-old starlet from Kiveton Park near Sheffield was testing the VTR SP1 when he was high-sided from the 1000cc machine exiting Charlie's Corner and landed heavily on the track.

As a precaution, Toseland was airlifted to Lincoln County Hospital where he underwent a five-hour operation tonight to repair the damaged hip and femur shaft and is expected to remain in hospital until the weekend before being transferred nearer to his Sheffield home.

Team Co-ordinator Stuart Bland who witnessed the accident explained what he saw:

"James had done eight or nine consecutive laps and was well up to speed with new tyres that were up to working temperature. As he exited Charlie's, he lost the back end and he very nearly saved it before being thrown from the machine and it looked as if he landed awkwardly".

The accident is a double blow for the popular teenager who has been riding brilliantly on the kitted machine against the fully blown works bikes also on the grid. Not only are his aspirations of a top six British Championship position now over, but he will not be able to ride at the World Superbike meeting at Brands Hatch next week, where the team was hoping to impress in order to obtain some factory parts.

Team owner Paul Bird is currently on holiday in Dubai but was told of the accident by Honda Race Team Manager Roger Harvey who commented as follows: "It never rains but it pours! First John gets injured and now James just as he was riding at his very best. We have to assess the extent of James' injuries and I'll be speaking with Paul again in the near future to discuss the situation further" said Harvey.