Sylvain Barrier seriously hurt in car crash

French World Superbike racer Sylvain Barrier has been badly hurt in a road traffic collision in his native France.

Details are still emerging, but French media are reporting that the former double Superstock 1000 champion was initially left in a coma. Close friend James Toseland has confirmed that he is now awake but remains in intensive care in Lyon.

Barrier was forced to miss the opening round of the World Superbike Championship with his BMW Motorrad Italia team, after a testing crash at Philip Island left him with a compound fracture to his pelvis.

The WSB season resumes after a six week break at Motorland Aragon in Spain on the 11th April.