It wasn't just Marc Marquez and Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa who rode the 2017 Honda during a private post-race test at Misano.

It has emerged that Alex Marquez, who completed his first MotoGP laps alongside older brother Marc at the 2014 Valencia test, also tried the new bike.

But it was far from being a 'test'.

Repsol Honda had originally planned for Marc Marquez and Pedrosa to test on the Monday, but postponed the outing until Tuesday due to bad weather.

However HRC have confirmed to Crash.net that Marc VDS Moto2 rider Alex carried out shakedown duties on the prototype - 'a few laps with each bike on the Monday afternoon' - to check everything was OK before the machines were used by the Repsol riders the following day.

With just five days of private testing allowed for MotoGP race riders, by having Alex do a shakedown, HRC were able to double check the new bikes were in full working order for the following day - without Marquez and Pedrosa using up any additional test days.

Cal Crutchlow is due to ride the 2017 Honda after this weekend's Aragon round.