As if Marco Melandri's Donington podium wasn't amazing enough - given that it came just two weeks after he was hospitalised at Catalunya - it has now been revealed that the Italian is riding with a fractured collarbone!

The much needed weekend off, after three races in succession, allowed Melandri to undergo further tests on his numerous upper body injuries - including an examination at a clinic run by Doctor Porcellini, the orthopaedic shoulder specialist who operated on Melandri's collarbone and shoulder in 2003.

The results of those tests revealed that Melandri suffered a compound fracture to his right collarbone in the nasty turn one accident. Three weeks on - and after finishing seventh at Assen and third at Donington - Marco is still recovering, but the pain continues and the Italian must try to move his right arm as little as possible, particularly avoiding putting it across his front.

"The week break has given me chance to recover but also to find out more about why I'm in so much pain with my right shoulder," said the Fortuna Honda rider, a double 2006 race winner. "The examination I underwent (X-ray, CAT and magnetic resonance) have shown up a fracture to the right collarbone next to the sternoclavicular joint. That explains the intense pain I was in at Assen and Donington. I've already spoken with both Doctor Porcellini, the specialist who operated on my collarbone in 2003, and Doctor Costa about continuing the physiotherapy. The worst is over but I still have to try to move my right arm as little as possible."

But moving his right arm as little as possible won't be easy for Melandri this weekend, since he will be taking part in the German Grand Prix at the tight and twisty Sachsenring.

"Now we have to race at two very interesting tracks. The Germany-United States double will be tough but I hope to be able to tackle it at my best," said Marco. "Sachsenring is a peculiar circuit but i like it because it is technical. The setting of the bike has to be perfect at this track and as far as riding technique is concerned you have to be very careful to control the throttle without being too aggressive.

"It was nice to be back on the podium just two weeks after the accident. Donington was a real achievement for me and I pleased because Barcelona hasn't affected me - I still have the desire to fight and my racing spirit is still intact," he declared.

Melandri is currently fourth in the MotoGP World Championship standings, 39 points behind leader Nicky Hayden.

While all attention was on Valentino Rossi's Thursday practice fall at Assen on June 22, Fortuna Honda's Toni Elias was also injured in the same session.

And, while reigning world champion Rossi was able to ride on, Elias was forced to miss both the remainder of the Assen weekend and then sit out the following Donington Park event as he recovered from a fractured left shoulder.

Despite the weekend off, Elias is still suffering from his injury - but will try and ride alongside Marco Melandri at this weekend's German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.

"I'm happy to come back after a forced three-week break at home. It's been a tough period because the shoulder has been really painful. It hurts every time I move my arm and I can't even rest properly because it is even painful when I lay down," said Toni. "I've tried to recover as quickly as possible by having two sessions with the physiotherapist each day.

"I want to race even though I am aware it will be very difficult and painful. I don't know how the shoulder will react to the demands of the bike at a circuit like Sachsenring, which has a lot of left corners - the injured side. I feel motivated - crashes and the recovery period always make you stronger and that is the way I feel," he declared.

First free practice for the German Grand Prix takes place on Friday morning.

easy killer. Tony isn't a wuss by any means.

broken collar bone is a pain in the ass.. constant pain no matter what you do the simplest task becomes painful..

riding a motorcycle with one especially where he broke it... ouch pain in the ass..

I broke mine 2 years ago. I couldn't do shit for 2 weeks, and no heavy lifting. The bike was out, 'bout the only thing I could lift was a cold beer..

I've broken both of mine twice... not something I would want to do again..

TWICE?!!! I can't sleep on that side now, how do you do it?