Iannone “preferred not to risk” riding in second practice

The Ducati rider is making his second attempt at returning to MotoGP action after he sustained a microfracture to his T3 vertebra in a practice crash at Misano last month.

His previous attempt at Aragon was aborted after the pain he suffered in first practice, and the Italian did not travel to the following two races in Japan and Australia - having his place taken by Michele Pirro and then Hector Barbera.

By contrast, Iannone says that after Friday morning’s running at Sepang, he is able to manage the pain of his injury – but said it was too risky to go out in second practice, led by Jack Miller on a drying track.

“After these four races [that I missed] I’m very happy because this morning I had a very good feeling from the beginning with the bike,” said Iannone, who was fourth fastest in first practice.

“With my injury, I have pain, but I manage very well at the moment, this is very important for all the weekend.

“[This afternoon] I was not on track because with these conditions, I prefer not to risk a lot.

“But it’s very important I have a good feeling with the bike, and I’m very happy because I was fast this morning, very close from Marc [Marquez]."

Iannone, who admitted on Thursday that he still isn't feeling at "100 percent", nonetheless cautioned that he has not yet given any thought as to how his injuries will hold up over a race distance.

“It’s too early to think about the race, but my feeling with the bike is good and this is most important,” he concluded.

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont