The Franklin Business Women’s Association is recognising her achievements and contributions to the area at a special dinner in Pukekohe this evening. But instead of being able to celebrate this from Europe, Prumm has had to undergo emergency surgery after a nasty training accident in Belgium on a very rough track.

Training with an already damaged ACL ligament, Prumm high-sided off the bike and came down hard on her left side, shattering her collarbone in four places. The fracture was repaired under general anaesthetic at Herentals Hospital.

Prumm, who is currently leading the 2008 world championships, was preparing for the fourth round of five in the series, set to take place in Germany this weekend. Speaking after surgery, a philosophical Prumm said she had to think ahead to next year’s championship.

"After this collarbone surgery, I will have surgery to repair my knee and then begin the long process to strengthen and rebuild the muscles.

"It has been a very eventful campaign this year, but after three rounds I was on top of the points table. I was looking forward to some good racing this weekend, but I have had a run of bad luck this year. I" will be back next year to reclaim the title I am now unable to defend."

Although unable to complete the world championships, Yamaha supported, Prumm will be aiming to be back in action at the New Zealand Championships which take place at the end of the year.

A doubtful starter when the season kicked off, a kneecapped Prumm had defied the odds, and medical advice, to line up regardless and race at the opening round in Bulgaria in May.

The Yamaha star braved the pain and finished fifth and third in her two races, a remarkable fourth overall for the day. She travelled to Italy for a very muddy round two and again battled among the leaders, finishing the day second overall and, significantly, ahead of her main rival, championship leader Livia Lancelot (Kawasaki).

Suddenly the teenager from South Auckland was up to second in the championships, just two points behind French rider Lancelot. Prumm has raced with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee since her crash in early May but you would not have known that to see her perform at round three of the world series in France just under a fortnight ago.

Again she finished runner-up on the day -- both races that day again won by German rider Stephanie Laier (KTM) -- but again Prumm was ahead of Lancelot and it was enough for her to snatch the series lead. But all of that flies out the window after the latest shock development.

Prumm leads the world championship standings on 122 points, with Lancelot second on 120. Third is American Ashley Fiolek (Honda), on 102 points, with Germans Maria Franke (Kawasaki), on 101, and Laier, on 100, rounding out the top five.

Prumm will be a mere spectator in Germany this weekend. The series wraps up in the Netherlands on September 7.