World Superbike rider Sylvain Barrier is in hospital afte𝕴r being involved i💜n a car accident in his native France.

The 25 year-old, who steps up to the WSBK series this year after winning the Superstock 1000 title two seasons running, was briefly in a coma, but has now awoken according to friend and mentor Ja🉐mes Toseland, who took to Twitter to update on his cond♔ition.

The Frenchman was forced to skip the opening round of the 2014 WSBK championship at Phillip Island after fracturing his pelvis in an accident during tes♏ting.

He had earlier said it was his plan to return to action in the second round at Motorland Aragon next month on the BMW Italia EVO despite not being 100 per cent fit, though this is now seemingly in doubt🌠.