NGK-sponsored motorcycle star James Alderson will be unable to race for the foreseeable future after suffering a broken shoulder socket during a recent meeting.

He sustained the injury in the second heat of the BSB Pirelli Junior Superstock championship at a meeting at Donington Park earlier this month after winning the opening heat.

He said: “Well, not the news we were hoping for.

“We have been to a shoulder specialist in Darlington and what we thought was a dislocated shoulder, and after further X-rays I have a badly fractured shoulder socket and will need to have surgery on it.

“Definitely not what we wanted as it means I’ll not be back out for a few months but once the surgery is complete, I’ll be training harder than ever to get all my strength back in my shoulder so I can be back out soon as possible.”

NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd marketing manager Mark Hallam said: “It is such bad luck for James to suffer such a serious injury after a great start to the season.

“We all wish him a speedy recovery and I am sure he will come back fitter and better than ever.”