Hofmann aims to return for Brno

The German is expected to need five weeks to fully recover, but as his injury has coincided with the series' summer break, it is possible that he could recuperate sufficiently in the month between Laguna Seca and the Czech round.

In a three hour operation at San Francisco's Surgery Centre South yesterday, Hofmann had a metal plate and fifteen screws into his left hand side.

"Alex has a very bad fracture and, to be able to put the screws in his hand, I had to enlarge his wound because the break wasn't compound," said surgeon Dr Arthur J Ting.

"Of course he will have strong pain for a long time, but in my opinion, he will start again to ride already in the next race in Brno."

Hofmann said he was determined to get back on track as soon as possible.

"This kind of break is really painful and at this moment I haven't recovered all feeling in my hand and I don't know exactly how much time I will need to recover completely," he said.

"My physiotherapist says that I will need at least five weeks to come back one hundred percent, but the only sure thing is that I will return to action as soon as I am physically able. I am trying to be confident, but in this condition it is very difficult."

The practice session continued to run for 15 minutes after the accident before being red-flagged so that an ambulance could attend to Hofmann, whose crash had taken place in an area that could not be accessed except via the racetrack.

He fears that this delay could have exacerbated the injury.

"There is the possibility that I could have some problems with infection; after the crash yesterday morning, I had to stay too long at the side of the track because the ambulance could not arrive to pick me up," Hofmann said.

The crash was caused by Sylvain Guintoli - who misjudged his speed on the entry to the Corkscrew and slid into Hofmann at speed.

Hofmann has been replaced at Pramac D'Antin Ducati by former 250cc rider Chaz Davies. The Briton had been at Laguna to ride in the AMA Supersport 600 support race.