Iannone forced to withdraw from Aragon GP

Iannone crashed in first practice a fortnight ago and fractured his T3 vertebra, and was ruled out of the rest of that weekend.

He was cleared to compete at Aragon, and set the sixth-fastest time on Friday morning.

But, riding in pain especially in braking areas and under acceleration and losing energy within "three or four laps", Iannone has made the decision to sit out the race.

Ducati has called up test rider Michele Pirro to partner Andrea Dovizioso.

Iannone said the decision was made with a view to being fit again for the first of the flyaway races at Motegi on October 14-16, and he will work with his physio on that basis.

"If I ride all weekend maybe not," he said of being fit for Japan.

"But if I stop my weekend now, my situation improves.

"If I continue this weekend, after Sunday, my situation is worse than now, because I'd push a lot on my back and this is completely worse for the future.

"It's very important at the moment to use my head and focus on my recovery."