Tyla Rattray’s promising debut in the AMA motocross series came to a painful and premature end on Sunday. The South African was making a one-off appearance over the Atlantic thanks to a break in the World Championship calendar but left the Millville circuit in Minnesota nursing a dislocated shoulder after a mechanical problem saw the twenty year old hit the dirt.

Rattray flew out to America last Tuesday and rode an American-prepped version of his regular KTM 250F on Thursday to get the bike dialled in and ready for action. The ten times Grand Prix winner set the fifth fastest time in qualification and was feeling happy and fast on the Millville terrain.

During the second practice session a mechanical glitch caused the ’06 Flanders, Spanish and Portuguese Grand Prix winner to crash on a long, fast whoops section and the impact dislocated his right shoulder. The joint was re-attached immediately at the track and the initial prognosis is that the injury was not too severe. Needless to say Rattray could not take part in the meeting and has returned to his base in Belgium for further medical consultation.

“It’s really disappointing,” he said. “I just always seem to have bad luck lately. This was my first time racing over here and I was really feeling good on the bike and loving the track. I guess this is motorsport and things can happen, it is just such a pity; I was really looking forward to racing with those guys in the front.''

Rattray will now have another examination on the limb but early indications are that he will be able to race the final three rounds of the World Championships in Northern Ireland, Holland and France. The trip to Desertmartin – a venue where he clinched victory eleven months ago – will take place on the 26th and 27th of this month.