UPDATE: So how exactly did the injury happen?

The VR46 team told Crash.net Bulega was playing with his dog at home and 'crashed' onto a glass table in the dining room.

A 'domestic' injury left Nicolo Bulega needing surgery to fix some tendons in his right hand, ruling the Sky VR46 Moto3 rider out of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix and probably the following Phillip Island round.

As a result, 2019 rookie Celestino Vietti Ramus will make an early world championship debut at Motegi this weekend.

"Unfortunately, due to a domestic injury, I was forced to undergo a surgery to repair some tendons in the hand," Bulega confirmed. "To avoid complications and make a quick recovery, the doctors suggested to me to miss the race at Motegi and probably also in Australia.

"It's a real shame because in Thailand, we ended the weekend in a positive way with a P7 as a final result. The feelings were good and we could finish the season in a good way.

"Good luck to Celestino for his debut in the Championship, it will be an extraordinary experience."

MotoGP star Cal Crutchlow suffered a similar hand injury while cutting parmesan cheese last season.

Vietti Ramus, who has a best finish of second for the VR46 Junior Team in the CEV this season, said: "Replacing a rider due to injury always leaves something bitter in the mouth and I wish Nicolò to recover as soon as possible.

"At the same time, however, for me - coming from CEV and having never raced in the world championship - this is a great opportunity to start getting familiar with Team and with one of those tracks that would have been unknown.

"A lot of work awaits me, it will be a really challenging jump and I will work to make as much experience as possible."

Bulega, whose seventh in Thailand was his best result of the season, feels his physical size is too much of a handicap in Moto3 and will move to the VR46 Moto2 team in 2019, when Vietti Ramus will join the continuing Dennis Foggia in Moto3.