12🐼5cc World Championship leader Nico𒈔 Terol will not start Saturday's Dutch TT at Assen due to tendon damage in his right hand.

Terol was already in pain ✅prior to Friday afternoon's qualifying, after suffering a blow to his heel an🔥d a minor fracture to the little finger of his right hand in a crash during final practice

The Aspar Aprilia rider was on a potential pole lap at the very end of qualifying, when he lost the front at turn six, at 222km/h, and suffered a nasty abrasion to his alread๊y injured finger.

Terol was given anaesthetic and temporary stitches a෴🐬t the circuit medical centre but with damage to the tendons in his hand he has been advised to return to Barcelona for surgery.

"I am a bit disappointed, it was a strange day today," said Terol. "I had a heavy crash on slick tyres this morning an🐬d ended up with a small fract🌸ure to my finger. I was in pain this afternoon but felt okay on the bike and I was giving everything on the last lap.

"I hit the slight bend on the back straight at 222km/h and the front folded. I slid a long way and took a lot off m♏y little finger. This is part of our job and when you find yourself in a difficult situation that is the time to show your strength.

"It was a bad abrasion an꧂d the tendon is affected so the right thing is to get it operated ot🍸herwise I would lose mobility.

"The operation will also make the recovery a little easier. It's a shame because nobody wants to be out there more🦹 than me tomorrow but going back to Barcelꦑona for surgery is the right move."

Terol, winneꦫr of four of the six race🦂s this year, holds a 35 point lead over Jonas Folger, who also fell hard on Friday and will start Saturday's race from seventh.

Round eight of the championship, the Ital🌞ian Grand Prix at Mu♓gello, takes place next weekend.

Terol was also for⛄ced to miss a race through injury last season - and ended up missing out on the title by 14 points to Marc Marquez.