Iannone fractured his T3 vertebra during opening practice for the San Marino Grand Prix, ruling himself out of the event, test rider Michele Pirro taking his place.

He attempted to compete in the following round at Aragon two weeks later, but withdrew after suffering from pain in the first session of the weekend and was again replaced by Pirro.

With a three-week gap between the previous round and Motegi, it was expected that Iannone would be fit to race, but a Ducati statement said his doctor advised him to wait a few more days for the injury to fully heal before returning to competition.

The team added that Iannone is expected to race at Phillip Island next weekend, and that it will run a sole works bike for Andrea Dovizioso in Japan.