Randy de Puniet has been forced to withdraw from the final official MotoGP test of the year as continues to recover from the wrist injury that stunted his progress towards the end of the season.

The Frenchman was due to continue testing the Bridgestone-shod LCR Honda he sampled for the first time during post-season testing at Valencia two weeks ago, but has instead decided to concentrate on getting back to full fitness.

Nonetheless, de Puniet is unconcerned about missing the test, to be held at Jerez, as he wants to be completely injury-free ahead of a second season with the Italian-based team.

“I won't be testing in Jerez, which will be good for me to recover completely,” he told the official MotoGP website. “I'm wearing a big protective support on my hand and wrist and, although I can't do some movements with my right hand, the injury is getting better and less painful.

“I need to wear it for two more weeks and then it should be OK. At the moment I am only running and riding, but when I get better I will go back to my usual training like riding motocross and playing squash.”