Walker hit by Bell's Palsy.

Kawasaki rider Chris Walker could find his season ended before it even begins following his diagnosis with Bell's Palsy. The disease causes partial paralysis of the face and has affected Walker such that he can't blink with one eye, can't move his lips or even swallow properly.

Despite these symptoms the diagnosis of the condition only came about by chance. Walker is reported in Motorcyclenews.com as saying: "I only went to see a mate in hospital after a motocross crash and ended up being admitted and treated for this Bell's Palsy thing. "

The condition affects 40,000 Americans every year and is caused by trauma to the 7th cranial nerve. The extent of Walker's paralysis should be evident in a couple of days from the onset of the condition. Luckily it is only a temporary condition and 50% of victims have a full recovery in a short time. A further 35% have good recoveries within a year. An average recovery can take anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months as the nerve regenerates.

With Walker currently wearing an eye-patch over the affected eye he could well miss the next WSBK test in Valencia.