Jorge Lorenzo has withdrawn from the Japanese Grand Prix as he continues to struggle with the wrist injury which also ruled him out of the Thailand MotoGP race.
Lorenzo suffered a suspected hairline fracture in a crash during FP2 a Buriram after encountering a mechanical issue with his Ducati under braking for Turn 3, which forced him to sit out the Thailand race.
Passed fit on Thursday at Motegi, Lorenzo admitted his prospects of racing were slim as a new scan revealed his left wrist had suffered a complete fracture in the Thailand crash.
The Ducati rider completed an out-lap in FP1 on Friday morning at Motegi, before returning to pitlane, visibly shaking his head and failing to return to the circuit during the rest of the session.
Ducati Paolo Ciabatti said to motogp.com during FP1 it was unlikely Lorenzo would carry on, with official confirmation coming at the end of the session.
It is thought Ducati will not replace Lorenzo this weekend, but his participation in the remaining flyaways in Austrlia and Malaysia coming in the next two weeks remains in doubt.
Should he make the likely decision to sit out the upcoming races, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro is on stand-by to fill in for the Spaniard.
This injury comes at a critical time for Lorenzo, who will test the Honda he will ride in 2019 in a month's time at the post-race test in Valencia.
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