Gariboldi Honda’s Tim Gajser has been ruled out of this weekend’s Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas, USA, after re-aggravating a shoulder injury at Saturday’s Monster Energy SMX Cup in Germany.

The recently crowned world champion claimed Superpole at the inaugural event, going onto claim the opening moto win after making an early pass on Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM).

Gajser’s night unravelled in race two when the Slovenian took a hard hit, damaging the shoulder that forced him out of this year’s Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations late last month.

“I feel so bad that I can’t go to the Monster Energy Cup this year because it’s no secret that I want to race against the best in the world in America,” Gajser expressed. “I showed at the start of SMX that I am fast in this mix of motocross and supercross and I think it would have been a great battle this weekend in Las Vegas, but there is too much risk with the injury in my shoulder.”

“I was letting people pass when they caught me because I didn’t want to have any contact in my shoulder or push harder and make it worse. I was holding on, and this is no way to go to race something as important as Monster Energy Cup.”

The 20-year-old will remained sidelined until he overcomes the injury and will use the time to refresh himself prior to commencing preparations for the 2017 season, which will see him defend his world title.

“It’s been an unbelievable season this year taking the MXGP title,” he reflected. “For that I want to thank everyone with me for all their support. But it’s also been a long season so now we need to take some time and make sure we go into 2017 stronger than ever.”