Dani Pedrosa delays MotoGP return

Dani Pedrosa will not make a MotoGP return in front of his home Spanish fans at Jerez this weekend.

Pedrosa has been absent for the past two events following an operation to address 'arm pump' problems in the season-opening Qatar round, where the Repsol Honda star dropped from second on the grid to a dejected sixth.

The Spaniard tested his post-surgery fitness on a Supermoto bike yesterday, but: "Even though at first it felt OK, after riding my forearm still didn't feel 100%.

"I know that if I do a whole race weekend it will be much worse, and the last thing I want is to create another big problem.

"So it has been a very difficult decision to make, but I think the best is to wait a while longer, go ahead with the rehabilitation and be back [for the next race] in Le Mans."

Pedrosa underwent a 'complicated and aggressive' procedure to remove the layer of fascia around his right forearm muscle after revealing that previous surgery, plus less intrusive treatments, had not worked.

Immediately ruled out of Texas and Argentina, Honda turned down retired double champion Casey Stoner's offer to replace Pedrosa and instead called upon Hiroshi Aoyama. Aoyama will again take Pedrosa's place at Jerez.

"I'm sorry for Dani that he is not able to return to racing this weekend at his home grand prix," Aoyama said. "Honda have asked me to substitute for him again and it's an honour to do so."

Pedrosa's team-mate Marc Marquez is also injured, the reigning champion having a titanium plate inserted into his little finger after a dirt track accident on Saturday.

However Marquez, currently 30 points behind title leader Valentino Rossi, is expected to try and ride this weekend.