2009 World Superbike Championship leader Noriyuki Haga has been airlifted to Derby hospital with a fractured vertebra - plus other injuri𓄧es - after his violent race two crash at Donington Park on Sunday.

Haga fell heavily at Coppice, the fast right-hander which leads onto the back st𝓡raight, on lap five of the second race, shortly after moving into second position behind double Donington winner, and title rival, Ben Spies.

In a near identical accident to that suffered at the same turn by Ducati Xerox predecessor Troy Ba𒆙yliss in 2007, the Japanese was thrown from his 1198 as he applied the power and then hit several times by his bike as he tumbled to a halt.

Haga, third in race one, eventually walked away with the support of🐠 marshals but was then airlifted t🍸o hospital.

"Haga was victim of a serious crash in which𝕴 he has suffered a fracture o🍎f one of the spinal vertebrae," read a Ducati statement.

"He was immediately transferred to the track's medical cenꦰtre where the do♒ctors declared a fracture of one of his vertebrae.

"At this point it was decided to move him by helicopter to Derby hospiജtal where he will receive further medical attenti🍰on."

Spies is now just 14 points behind Haga after round nine of 14. The next event takes place at Brno on July 26-28 but Haga's at❀tendance is in serious doubt.