Honda’s WorldSBK team will field a reduced line-up at this week’s Jerez testꦑ, owing to an injury for Iker Lecuona.

Lecuona was training two weeks ago𒁏 when he suffered rib 𝄹injuries and contusions.

“Iker Lecuona is still recoverin𓆏g from an injury sustained while training two weeks ago,” a statement from Honda reads.

“Lecuona suffered a cracked rib and minor contusions and although his injuries are n💦ot ser🔯ious, the team has decided that the rider should sit out this week’s test as a precaution.”

The Honda🔥 statement says that the plan for Lecuona is for him to return to act🎶ion at next week’s Portimao test on 28–29 January.

L🐲ecuona’s absence in Jerez means that only Xavi Vierge, of HRC’s full-time WorldSBK line-up, will ride at the Andalusian venue this week on 22–23 January, a test which precedes the first roundܫ by only four-and-a-half weeks.

Vierge will not be completely alone in the Honda programme, with Petronas MIE’s Tarran Mackenzie and Zaqhwan Zaidi riding for the first t😼ime this presꦅeason at Jerez, and HRC’s official test rider Tetsuta Nagashima also present in Spain.

Lecuona’s injury marks another injury-hit beginning to a season, after he missed six of the first nine races of 2024 through injury. He also missed the final race of last season ꩲafter a crash in the Superpole Race at Jerez with his teammate, Vierge; and the #7 missed the final six races of his rookie WorldSBK campaign after a practice crash at the penultimate round at Mandalika in 2022.