Gibernau 'still a doubt' for Portugal.

Spanish favourite Sete Gibernau remains a possible absentee from this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix following his last corner collision with arch-rival Valentino Rossi at Jerez on Sunday.

The pair were duelling for the lead of the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix, and had already swapped positions three times on the final lap, when Rossi's forceful move up the inside of the final hairpin saw Honda and Yamaha make contact, with Gibernau ending up running through the gravel trap. More consequentially, however, the Spaniard's left shoulder came into contact with the handlebar of Rossi's bike, aggravating an old injury.

Immediately after the presentations at the Spanish race, Gibernau flew to Barcelona to have the shoulder - an already susceptible area that has previously undergone surgery on two occasions - examined.

The official report issued by the medical centre claimed that the Spaniard, runner-up in last year's world championship, had 'acquired a lesion to the rotator cuff of his left shoulder and to the tendon, which will require rest and treatment with anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications'.

The Honda rider has begun a course of physiotherapy in order to regain full use of the shoulder as quickly as possible but, more importantly for his legions of fans, the report insisted that Gibernau's 'participation in the next race, as of now, is still in doubt'.