After the high of finishing runner-up in Japan five days earlier, resident MotoGP star Cal Crutchlow suffered a devastating low on Friday when breaking an ankle during free practice for the Australian Grand Prix.

His visit to Phillip Island started promisingly with the second fastest lap in free practice two earlier in the day.

He had again posted the second quickest time in FP3 when he crashed at more than 130 mph at the super fast Turn 1 [Doohan’s].

The Honda LCR rider was taken to the circuit’s medical centre, where a bimalleolar and anterior tibia fracture of his right ankle was diagnosed.

He was subsequently airlifted to hospital in Melbourne where he was operated on. An external fixator has been fitted to the ankle and a second operation is scheduled for this Thursday.

If all goes well with that he is likely to fly back to the UK and onto the island this weekend, with close friend Andrew Roche who has accompanied him at a number of this year’s motogp rounds.

Crutchlow, 33 yesterday (Monday), has been replaced by factory Honda test rider Stefan Bradl for this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix. The final round is at Valencia on November 18, but it would seem unlikely that Cal will be fit enough to contest that event either.

The Australian GP was won by Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) from Andrea Iannone (Suzuki) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati).

The only positive for Crutchlow is the fact that he retains an 11-point lead the Independent Championship with closest rivals, Petrucci and Zarco, both hitting problems.