After fracturing his right ankle in a highly unfortunate FP4 crash at Sepang last weekend LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl tried to ride at Phillip Island on Friday but was declared unfit after FP1.

The German MotoGP star had a medical review after the morning practice at the Australian track, which had seen him complete 11 laps but end up way down the timesheet in the unfamiliar territory of 20th place.

The four second gap to the top of the timesheet and the lack of mobility on the bike which Bradl suffered, in addition to the severe discomfort in his broken ankle, meant that he would ultimately be declared unfit to continue participating at the Tissot Australian Grand Prix.

Afterwards he told motogp.com, “Well we tried to ride. The surgery was only six days ago and we knew the situation, that the chance to ride here was very small. Everyone expected me back on track at Japan so that’s what we’re going to do now.”

“The pain was too much, I couldn’t move on the bike too well. I did not have enough movement in my ankle so I couldn’t see the point in going on,” he added.

Despite a suggestion that he could have a further medical review on Saturday to allow a change of decision from the rider and the authorities that be, Bradl ruled out returning to action this weekend 100%.

“I will not race and I will not take part in any more practices because my feeling is not good and I’m missing a lot of confidence,” he explained. “Especially on the right corners I have a lot of problems so I don’t see the reason to keep going as there is nothing we could achieve in the race.”