Image: Simon Cudby.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Baggett will miss the opening round of the 2016 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series after he sustained multiple injuries while testing in California this week.

Baggett crashed in the whoops at the factory test track, sustaining a broken collarbone, broken ribs and a broken scapula. He will miss the start of next season, which begins at Angel Stadium on 9 January.

“We’re hoping for a quick and full recovery,” said Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing’s team manager Mike Webb. “It’s a real shame because he was so far ahead of where he was at this point last year, but dealing with injuries is a part of the sport.

“Blake had worked really hard training for this season, had put on muscle and hours of hard work on the track and it was showing. On the positive side Blake was getting so strong physically that we believe that it will help him come back quickly from this injury.”

In his first 450SX season in 2015, Baggett finished fifth overall with one podium appearance at Daytona. He is due to be rejoined on the Yoshimura Suzuki team this season by James Stewart.