Image: Keith Muir.

Australasian Superbike Championship leader Wayne Maxwell will face a race for full fitness when the series resumes at Wakefield Park next month after breaking his collarbone in a training incident last week.

The Team Motul Honda rider crashed his dirt bike on Thursday and is scheduled to undergo an operation today in a bid to fast-track the healing process ahead of round five on 13-14 September.

His injury will also force him out of this weekend’s Oschersleben round of the FIM Endurance World Championship, with the Monster Energy Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART) calling in South African Sheridan Morais (updated) to replace him.

It’s the latest in a string of injuries for ASC title contenders, with Maxwell injuring his shoulder at the Phillip Island Championship opener in February before fracturing his leg at the Bol d’Or World Endurance opener.

Maxwell’s initial incident at Phillip Island involved teammate Josh Hook, who was ruled out of the ASC season opener with a fractured vertebra, wrist and collarbone.

Next Gen Motorsports BMW’s Glenn Allerton was next in line to race with injury, undergoing double knee surgery in the lead-up to Mallala and fighting to regain complete strength in races following.

The Winton round saw Team Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer score vital points despite breaking his ankle the weekend prior at the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan.

Maxwell currently leads the ASC championship after claiming his second round win of the season at Winton, now 14 points ahead of Stauffer and a further 24 points in front of the in-form fourth factory Honda entry, Troy Herfoss.