DANI PEDROSA dashed his hopes of fighting for the 2010 MotoGP World Championship, having sustained a fractured collarbone after crashing in free practice at Motegi, ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

Reports say the Spaniard fractured his collarbone in three places after crashing heavily on the entry to Turn 9, putting the Repsol Honda rider out of contention for the 2010 Championship.

The situation means current Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo is now almost a dead-cert to take the 2010 title.

Pedrosa's team-mate Andrea Dovizioso also crashed out of the session but escaped unhurt.

Dani Pedrosa:

“Obviously this has been a really bad day for us. It was a strange crash in only my second full lap, in a slow section of the track. I tried to stop the bike as usual but I knew something was wrong and couldn’t avoid going down.

"After the crash I knew immediately that I was injured because it was very painful. I had a big impact in my left ankle and also my collarbone was broken as I hit the track - so obviously it feels very unlucky because recently we have had really good results. I’ve been very healthy through the pre-season and through the year and we had been working a lot to get to and stay at the maximum level. Another injury to contend with is really not what I needed - I don’t feel as though I deserve it.

"Anyway, once the doctors had checked everything here, we decided it was best to go back to Spain for the operation. I hope it goes as well as possible and that I can return to racing soon.”