Michael Jordan Motorsports’ Aaron Yates has undergone surgery after breaking his leg in practice prior to race four of the 2010 AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike Championship in Fontana, California last weekend.

Yates had already turned in the fastest time in the Sunday morning practice session when he crashed coming out of turn 10 and was run over by M4 Monster Energy Suzuki’s Chris Ulrich. Ulrich was right behind Yates when he crashed and was unable to avoid the contact.

He underwent nearly six hours of surgery, performed by famed motorsports surgeon, Dr. Tom Bryan. He sustained two tibial fractures of the right leg – one just below the knee and one above the ankle – and a third, lower break of the fibula.

In addition to repairing the injuries to the leg from this weekend’s incident, plates and screws from a previous fracture were replaced. Bryan commented that Yates has some of the hardest bones he has ever worked on and that he broke two drill bits in the process.

Yates is resting comfortably and will remain in the hospital for several more days. Dr. Bryan indicated that the procedure went very well and that Yates could be back in action in as few as six weeks. He will certainly miss the Road Atlanta round of the 2010 AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike Championship in two weeks, but it is possible that he could return for the fourth round of the championship at Infineon, beginning 14 May.

Michael Jordan Motorsports will be giving Canadian Superbike rider Brett McCormick an evaluation at the Infineon test this week and will consider him as a possible replacement for Yates during his recovery. McCormick, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, was the 2009 runner-up in the Canadian Superbike Championship and his results at the Infineon test will determine if he will be selected to fill in for the Yates.