Source: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM has confirmed MXGP World Championship premier class rookie Jeffrey Herlings underwent surgery on Monday, revealing the extent of his injuries from an international in Italy last weekend.

The triple MX2 world champion fractured his fourth metacarpus, one of the five bones between the wrist and the fingers, in an incident involving MXGP champion Tim Gajser, casting him into doubt for Qatar.

However KTM has since confirmed that the plan is for Herlings to debut on the 450 SX-F in the world championship as expected next weekend on 25 February, despite currently recovering in a cast following this week’s operation.

Teammate Pauls Jonass has also been under an injury cloud this week after being concussed in a French international, but should be fit to ride at Qatar’s opening round of the MX2 World Championship. He’s been declared fit to race by the medical team.