Hofmann 'devastated' by broken ankle.

Kawasaki Alex Hofmann, who missed several races earlier in the year after injuring his wrist, will be absent from the next two rounds of the MotoGP World Championship after breaking his ankle during Sunday's Japanese Grand prix at Motegi.

From 12th on the grid Hofmann was shuffled back in an early battle for track position, settling into 16th position - right behind Camel Honda's Tohru Ukawa and D'Antin Ducati's Roby Rolfo.

On lap 3 Hofmann tried to squeeze up the inside of Ukawa's RCV, but collided with Rolfo in the turn, sending both riders tumbling into the gravel trap. The German underwent treatment in the circuit medical centre as a result of the fall and was diagnosed with a broken bone in his left ankle.

The 25-year-old will fly to Munich tomorrow (Monday), where he will undergo surgery on his fractured ankle. While he is certain to miss the next two races in Malaysia and Qatar, Hofmann hopes to make his racing return at the Australian Grand Prix, which is just one month away.

"I'm absolutely devastated; yet another disaster and another stupid injury," he sighed. "We just don't have the top speed with our bike to overtake on the straights, so we have to pass into the turns on the brakes. But even then you have to make up at least 20 metres on the brakes before you're even close enough to pass.

"I went up the inside of Ukawa into the corner and I had no other option but to go under Roby as well, as he'd run wide of the apex. Unfortunately, he didn't know I was there and turned in right in front of me; we collided and both ended up in the gravel.

"I'm sorry for Roby, he did nothing wrong. I guess I will just have to wait and see what the doctors in Munich say about my ankle, but I'm fairly confident that a return to racing at Phillip Island will be possible," he added.

Hofmann's team-mate Shinya Nakano retired after an engine failure.