Stuart Easton has labe🐬lled himself as 'extremely lucky' despite suffering a suspected leg break in a frightening accident duriꦜng the first British Superbike Championship race at Brands Hatch.

The Scot, who was on course to qualify for the Title Showdown having won a race and three further podiums so far this year, ꦐwas running with the front group when he came down into Hawthorne and was flung at speed into the barriers.

A spectacular accident, one that was almost replicated by PBM Kawasaki team-mate Shane Byrne a few laps later,✱ Easton was taken to hospital, where he was assessed for a leg injury. He has since been diagnosed🙈 with a suspected lower leg fracture and ligament damage to his knee.

A potentially big b💝low to Easton's hopes of making it into the top six Shoꦚwdown, he nonetheless counts himself lucky with the outcome in the circumstances.

"I was feeling confident coming into this weekend although we had a fe⛦w issues getting the bike how I wanted it. I was happy after qualifying although we had a technical problem during morning warm-up which meant we had to change engines.

"I was feeling good in the race then all of a sudden I was flying towards the barriers and although I've suffered an injury to my leg, all things 🍬considered I was extremely lucky. We'll see exactly what the damage is and🦄 I hope to be back and challenging again soon."

Easton remains fourth in the overall s🍸tandings, 42 points clear of current seventh place man Michael Laverty.

The next race takes place at Thruxton on August 2nd, f🐭ollowed by Cadwell Park on 23rd August, but team manager Paul Bird has already confirmed Ian Hutchinson will be in his place for the former at least.