After a brief outing in FP1 to test his physical condition, Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) has decided to withdraw from the Motul Grand Prix of Japan with the wrist fracture sustained in Thailand causing the Spaniard too many issues on a demanding Twin Ring Motegi circuit.
A quick return for @lorenzo99 ????
— MotoGP™???????????? (@MotoGP) October 19, 2018
Is that the end of his #JapaneseGP already? ???????? pic.twitter.com/0Hlamqjn8Q
Ducati Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti spoke to motogp.com pitlane reporter Simon Crafar during FP1 to give an update on Lorenzo’s condition: “It seems it will be the end of his weekend. He has felt better during the two weeks of rest, but in the last days, he has intensified the training and has more pain. We did the tests again and we have seen that the fracture has not healed. Motegi is not the best track to ride when you are injured. Let's see what he decides but with this pain, it would not be smart to run.”
Although the decision is to withdraw from the event, Lorenzo and Ducati are able to reverse the decision at any point during the weekend if the five-time World Champion’s injury dramatically improves.