The broken leg is mending fast but Honda rider Marc Marquez will still be starting his MotoGP title defence on the back foot in Qatar next week.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, who in his rookie season became the youngest ever champion in motorcycling's top category, fractured the fibula in his right leg while dirt-bike riding six weeks ago.
The injury meant he missed two of his team's three pre-season tests in Malaysia and Australia, although the leg was not put in plaster, and has not ridden a MotoGP bike since February the 6th.
Marquez was third on his MotoGP debut in Qatar last year after winning the 2012 Moto2 race, and went on to chalk up six wins.
While he has had to put his feet up, team mate and injury-prone compatriot Dani Pedrosa did plenty of laps in testing and has been putting in extra time in the gym to ensure he is in the best shape.
