Hutchinson undergoes surgery on left leg

Isle of Man TT star Ian Hutchinson has undergone surgery after breaking his leg while rehearsing for a stunt display at the Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show in London on Wednesday.

The Swan Yamaha rider fractured his tibia and fibula after appearing to twist his leg, according to reports.
Hutchinson has had an external cage fitted to his leg to aid the healing process following his latest setback.

The injury normally takes up to 16 weeks to heal, which would rule him out of the beginning of the British Superbike Championship, although there is no official confirmation of how long the 32-year-old will be sidelined.

He was taken to see his surgeon in Coventry after the incident and it was reported that the fractures he sustained on Wednesday are not in the same area as the original breaks.

Hutchinson injured the same leg he almost lost after he was struck by another rider in a freak crash at the penultimate round of the British Supersport Championship at Silverstone in 2010.

His left leg was shattered in the accident and he missed the 2011 season, but made his return at Macau in November, finishing on the podium following a stunning ride to third place.

It is a massive setback for Hutchinson, who wrote his name into the history books at the TT in 2010, when he became the first rider ever to win all five solo races in a week.

On Wednesday, Swan Yamaha boss Shaun Muir said he hoped 'Hutchy' would be out of hospital 'within a day or so'.

Hutchinson only recently had the original cage removed but is now facing another battle to be fit in time for the start of the 2012 season following his latest operation.

The NW200 and Ulster Grand Prix winner has signed a deal to compete in British Superbikes this year in addition to the international road races.