WSS: Irwin ruled out of debut with hand injury

Britain’s Andrew Irwin has been ruled out of this weekend’s World Supersport opener at Phillip Island after a crash during testing.

The 2017 British Supersport runner-up crashed heavily on the first day of testing at the Australian circuit and it was later confirmed he’d fractured the third metacarpal bone in his left hand.

The injury means the Ulsterman will miss his debut World Supersport outing at Phillip Island later this week, but is planning to be fit for the second round at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand late next month.

Irwin’s CIA Landlord Insurance Honda team have already drafted in a replacement in the shape of Aussie Aiden Wagner, who rode four races for the Louth-based squad back in 2015.