Glenn Irwin passed fit for Race 1 despite broken bone in neck

The 28-year-old, racing for Be Wiser Ducati, crashed towards the end of the first free practice session, on the last turn of the Donington Park circuit.

He was taken to the medical centre at the track after being treated at the scene, and went on to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he revealed on Twitter that he already an existing broken bone in his neck from a crash last season.

However, remarkably, he was passed fit to take part in the first race of the season - which has been brought forward to Sunday - after tests revealed that the break had healed over with ligaments.

Irwin's team-mate, and defending champion, Shakey Byrne, topped the times in Free Practice 1, with Jake Dixon and Kyle Ryde the next quickest on a damp track.

Leon Haslam then came out with the best time in Free Practice 2 as Josh Brookes crashed with conditions complicated by rainfall the night before and compounded by the cold temperature.