Newly crowned triple MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo has been forced to withdraw from this weekend's Race Of Champions due to burn injuries.

Lorenzo suffered second degree burns to his left leg as he celebrated his latest MotoGP title in front of his home fans in Mallorca last week.

The injury is believed to have occurred when a radiator pipe came lose from a motorcycle he was preparing to ride, spraying boiling fluid onto the Spaniard's leg.

"I'm really sad that I cannot go to the Race Of Champions this year but during the celebrations in Mallorca I burned my leg on the bike," Lorenzo said. "I really hoped it would heal by now but due to potential complications from sweating inside the overalls, the doctors have forbidden me to do it.

"I know I would have had great fans supporting me in London so I'm sorry to be missing it. This is a great event and I hope you all enjoy watching all the action. Now I will try as hard as possible to be back at the Race Of Champions next year instead."

Six-time Olympic cycling gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy has been drafted in to replace Lorenzo for the event at London's former Olympic Stadium.

The Race Of Champions is an annual end-of-season which sees some of the world's leading motorsport competitors battle head-to-head in identical (four-wheel) machinery.

Five time 500GP champion Mick Doohan will now be the only motorcycle grand prix representative.